Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[TALA]

Hi teachers,

I'd like to ask the meaning of this sentence:

The homeless man is doing number two on the street!

thank you

[CP]

Number one is urination. Number two is defecation.

Children in school who want to go use the restroom during class must raise their hands. To signal to the teacher that it is a bathroom break rather than asking or answering a question, the students put up one or two fingers. If two fingers, the teacher can expect the trip to take a little longer.

Usually, of course, the teacher asks, "Can it wait?"
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[TALA]

Thank you very much CP.

I never imagine that the expression has such a meaning. Is it an American slang? Is it normally used in schools only? Is it normally used in spoken English or can it be used in business encounters?

Thank you again.

[CP]

Well, I believe it originated as a way to refer to having to use the restroom in a discreet way, and, in the U.S., at least, any adult would understand what you meant if you said, "He was going number one in the street," or something like that. Everyone learns it as a child as a way to communicate the meaning in polite company or in public.

An adult might say it that way when children were around so as to communicate it to everyone without saying anything offensive. If no children were around, an adult would probably say "number one" or "number two" only to be funny.

The more formal way, using urinate and defecate, as I did earlier, gives the information in a serious, direct, but not crude way. Otherwise, you are left with saying it with less refined language or indirectly (e.g., using the restroom). Your sentence might have been said differently:

"The homeless man is p-ssing / sh-tting in the street!" Very coarse; not recommended.

"The homeless man is peeing / pooping in the street!" Much milder but not suitable for all audiences.

"The homeless man is making pee-pee / doo-doo in the street!" Almost baby-talk.

"The homeless man is using the street as a toilet!" Indirect and less explicit.

"Oh, dear! The homeless gentleman has mistaken the public thoroughfare for washroom facilities!" Silly, fake-sophisticated. Should be said with a bad imitation of British royals' accent.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[TALA]

Thank you teachers