Why are people (esp Americans) super-coy about bodily functions

[DecorHate]

...and tie themselves in knots trying not to mention the word "toilet" let alone "wee" or whatever term is commonly used there for urinating?

E.g. "I frequently went to the bathroom in my pants" was the phrase I saw in The Observer today in an article written by an American man, recounting how a traumatic childhood event had affected him. Unless his underpants were gigantic, I very much doubt he had a bathroom secreted there!

When I lived in the US in my twenties I came across this in RL and found it hilarious that people who were in no way conservative in any other aspect of their lives could not bear to admit to using the toilet!

Yes, rest room was the euphemism when I was there.

And they don't breastfeed, they "nurse".

'nurse' is OK really, think of 'wet-nurse' and 'nursling' - is that a case where the original meaning has drifted towards healthcare rather than breastfeeding?

'bathroom' used like that is hilarious though. It has the perverse effect that you then have to find a different phrase if you actually need a bathroom.

I can understand having a different word for the actual room...but not to carry the euphemism over to the action - in the UK you wouldn't really hear people saying "I went to the toilet in my pants" or "I went to the loo in my pants", they'd say "I wet/peed myself"

Nurse is from "nourish" so in a way it is the more correct usage of the word - just different to our understanding of nursing with its connotations of uniforms and hospital beds.

DecorHate - in the UK you wouldn't really hear people saying "I went to the toilet in my pants"

Perhaps not nowadays, but then again, I was a touch surprised when (on "The Archers") a young mum said that "Mia needed a wee" where in days gone by, "Mia needed the toilet" would have been more common (it wasn't that I'm offended by the words wee or pee or poo, simply that I didn't expect it to be heard in a Radio 4 'soap' when 'toilet' would have been my choice when talking to acquaintances {or even family}).

It perhaps shows how younger editors/ writers 'think' and what's now more common in general parlance. OK, I'm on the wrong side of 50, but not a prude by any stretch...

I'm trying to give my DS the idea that peeing and pooing are actually "going to the loo". This is in preparation for potty-training, by the way... although that phrase itself implies a further location!

Aaargh

P.S., I loved "Unless his underpants were gigantic, I very much doubt he had a bathroom secreted there!"

Brilliant observation.

A long time ago I worked front of house in a West End theatre. So, obviously, lots of American tourists, who all used to ask where the "restroom" was. And oh, the fun we used to have saying VERY loudly:

"RESTROOM? Yes, the bar is downstairs?"

Cue, very pink tourist, saying no, they don't need the bar

"But they have seats!" We would offer helpfully.

No, not bothered about the seats, they needed to "powder their noses".

"Oh! You mean the LOO! Yes, the LOO is just down there!"

Off scuttled the tourist.

Hours of fun. Happy days.

Aaargh, I used to work in a pub in central Edinburgh, and one Festival an American couple came in looking for the "restrooms". I misheard and sent them to the restaurant in the building.