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Glite Dictionary
to use the loo

to use the loo

1 8.0
To go to the toilet to pee or poo
  • phrasal verb
  • UK
translation icon : ir al baño
  • - I need to use the loo.

Examples

Synonyms

to go to the bathroom
vsto use the loo
  • US
278 1.0

To use the toilet in a polite or indirect way

is the British everyday phrase rather than a formal or euphemistic expression
to use the bathroom
vsto use the loo
  • US
77 1.1

To go to the toilet to pee or poo

is the British conversational alternative rather than a polite indirect phrase
to the toilet
vsto use the loo
  • NSFW
22 1.0

Go to the bathroom to pee or poo

is used mainly in British speech rather than as a plain neutral phrase
to use the washroom
vsto use the loo
  • Canadian
1 1.9

To go to a room with a toilet to pee or poo

is the British conversational choice rather than a generally polite euphemism
to spend a penny
vsto use the loo
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To go to the toilet to pee

is the British general term used for any visit to the facilities

How Polite

to use the loo
  • UK
1 8.0
to use the potty
  • Baby Talk
2 3.0
to take a piss
  • Offensive
52 9.9

Surface Forms

use the loo infinitive
used the loo past
used the loo past participle
using the loo present participle
uses the loo third person singular

Morphology

use + the + loo

The meaning 'to go to the toilet' is directly derivable from combining 'use' (apply or make use of) with 'loo' (a British word for toilet); the definite article 'the' does not change the compositional reading. This is a straightforward verb + noun construction common cross-linguistically and in English, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would understand the MWE.

Etymology

Use the loo uses the British word loo, which one popular story says comes from the old shout 'gardy loo' people used when they threw dirty water from their windows. So use the loo means 'go to the toilet', and that image of water and waste helps you remember the meaning.