Are you looking for a polite way to let someone know that you need to "use the restroom"? That overused phrase isn't your only option. You could also say that you need to "spend a penny". Learn more about this saying, and how to use it, in this post.
Meaning
The archaic British expression "to spend a penny" is a euphemism that means you need to go to the toilet.
The saying dates back to the nineteenth century and refers to the price of using a public toilet.
Example Usage
Are you not sure how you could use the saying "to spend a penny" in a sentence? These examples shed some light on the matter:
- "I'll be right out, I just need to spend a penny first!"
- "Excuse me, is there anywhere I could spend a penny?"
Origin
Bodily functions have long been taboo topics in polite society. This explains why so many euphemisms have arisen to describe the need to use the toilet. The saying "to spend a penny" is just one of these.
The British saying "to spend a penny" can be traced to a precise year — 1851. Using the "retiring rooms" (toilets) at the Great Exhibition in London cost one penny. In addition to giving visitors access to a clean toilet, the penny also earned them a shoeshine and the use of a comb and towel.
Public toilets that featured coin-operated locks were installed in London during the same decade. These, too, cost a penny to use.
Because men's urinals were free to use, the phrase "spend a penny" was most popular among women.
The price of using a public toilet remained the same for a very long time. It wasn't until 1977 that the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph printed announced the news that the price would be going up, with the headline "2p [two pence] to spend a penny".
People could still be heard talking about spending a penny in the 1980s, but the saying has gradually become less common. Older British people will know what you are talking about if you say that you need to spend a penny.
Phrases Similar to Spend a Penny
If you don't want to use the archaic euphemism "to spend a penny", you have plenty of other options. You could say:
- Nature calls
- I need to use the restroom or bathroom
- I need to use the little boy's room, little girl's room, gents' room, or ladies' room
- I need to tinkle
- Doing my business
- I need to use the facilities
You also have plenty of less polite ways of getting the message across, of course. To name one example, you could say that you're "bursting".
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct saying is "to spend a penny". It means that you need to go to the bathroom.
Ways People May Say Spend a Penny Incorrectly
The meaning of the phrase "to spend a penny" is clear — but you could consider any use in which your audience doesn't understand what you are talking about incorrect.
Keep in mind that "to spend a penny" is a British euphemism. Although it remains in use, the saying has become rather dated now that most public toilets no longer cost money to use. If they do, it costs more than a penny to use the facilities.
Don't use this phrase in a group of young people or in the US.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Spend a Penny
You could say you need to spend a penny if you're in the polite company of older British people.
You could work the phrase into a work of period fiction you're writing, too. In this case, you might want to make the meaning clear from the context.
If you're trying to project old-fashioned British vibes, adopting the phrase "to spend a penny" is definitely an option.