Do you have to take a leak but are shy about announcing your needs? Maybe you want to teach your kids a cute, but polite way to signal that they need a potty break. There are a few different phrases you can use, but Jimmy Riddle is perhaps the easiest to remember. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase Jimmy Riddle simply means, going to pee. It is a form of slang that comes from Britain. Piddle is the actual word for urination or going to pee, and the phrase is a play on the sound. Piddle has been changed to Riddle, and then further changed to Jimmy Piddle. It is worth noting that this phrase only refers to urination, it doesn’t double as a way to say going to the bathroom. It also does not include taking a dump, which utilizes a different phrase.
If you have to go to the bathroom, or go pee, then saying going to Jimmy Riddle will suffice. It is pretty straightforward, and most people in Europe will understand exactly what you mean. The phrase is not very common in the US or in other places where the Cockney accent is uncommon.
Example Usage
“We have been hiking for hours, I need to Jimmy Riddle and we have yet to pass a rest stop”.
“Make sure you take the kids to Jimmy Riddle before you get back on the road, you don’t want any accidents”.
“Hey, tell the boss I’ll be right back, I need to Jimmy Riddle and I don’t want to interrupt his speech”.
“Hitting the road is great and all, but if you take an off-the-wall route, you will end up having to Jimmy Riddle in the bushes”.
Origin
The phrase Jimmy Riddle may seem like a kid’s rhyme, but this is far from the case. The origin of the phrase can be traced to East London. In East London, the locals speak Cockney, which is a slang form of British English. The people in this area of the country tend to use words that rhyme as a stand-in word for the original phrase. This habit is pervasive in all words in Cockney.
In London, the word used for urination is piddle. As a result, in cockney, the phrase was changed to riddle. It started being used at the end of 1800 and the start of the 1900s. Piddle and riddle were rhymed, though the source of Jimmy is unknown.
Phrases Similar to Jimmy Riddle
- Going to the loo
- Taking a piss
- Going to the bathroom
- Watering the grass
- Going to pee
- Urinate
- Pissing
Phrases Opposite to Jimmy Riddle
- Take a dump
- Powder my nose
- Bury a log
- Hit the skids
- Drop a log
- Burn some matches
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say the phrase is – Jimmy Riddle.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Jimmy Riddle
A lot of people mistake Jimmy Riddle for a song, poem, or even a folk tale. As a result, it is often used improperly to the amusement of those listening. Some ways that Jimmy Riddle is used incorrectly are:
- Hey, can you tell me a Jimmy Riddle?
- There are a lot of cute poems out there such as Jimmy Riddle.
- I love folk tales such as Jimmy Riddle and Peter Pan.
- There was an old man who tied his shoe, and then Jimmy Riddle came along and did it too.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Jimmy Riddle
Some ways that Jimmy Riddle is used correctly are:
- Can you take Katie to Jimmy Riddle? I can’t leave the line or we will have to wait another 30 minutes.
- I just need to take a quick break to go and Jimmy Riddle, do you mind answering the phones?
- Hey man, I’ll be right back, I need to Jimmy Riddle and grab a smoke too.
- I’ve been drinking too much coffee today I think, I have to Jimmy Riddle every 20 minutes!