call of nature

noun

, Informal.

1. a need to urinate or defecate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of call of nature¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Idioms and Phrases

Need to urinate or defecate, as in He left to answer the call of nature . This euphemism may be dying out. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

His convoy at the summit was also reported to feature a private toilet car, used by the leader to answer the call of nature while travelling.

From BBC

But I was more concerned about how to answer the call of nature with a bunch of strangers than I was about speed as I chatted with our group leader, Bill Borom, and Mountaineers regular Rich DuBois on the carpool to the trailhead.

From Seattle Times

One big cause of unofficial trails is people looking to respond to “the call of nature” in the woods because of insufficient portable toilets and inadequate signs pointing to existing facilities.

From Washington Post

When he could no longer resist the call of nature, Hunt reached for a half-empty bottle of Johnnie Walker Red.

From Literature

However, she almost missed her big moment by attending to a call of nature minutes before her name was called out.

From BBC