Americans do you say “taking a piss” ?
Posted by Mathematic_nut@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 110 comments
OK, so I’ve been talking to my American friend and I constantly use the phrase “ I’m just taking the piss” whenever I’m bantering after like the 10,000 time I’ve used it he goes… by the way why do you keep saying I’m taking the piss? it should be I’m taking a piss. 😭
And then he proceeded to say I’m taking the piss sounds like you’re collecting piss. No one says that it should be. I’m taking a piss.
do Americans actually say that or is he just intellectually molested??
This is probably a stupid post, but I need to know .
devilscabinet@reddit
"Taking the piss" and "taking a piss" in the sense of joking is not something you hear very often in the U.S. I'm almost 60, and have only heard Brits say it. If I were to use it, I would say "taking THE piss" because I know that is the British phrase.
ABelleWriter@reddit
We don't say "taking the piss" when we are joking around.
And we certainly don't say "intellectually molested".
NeverRarelySometimes@reddit
"molested", huh? I don't think that means what OP thinks it means.
shelwood46@reddit
I genuinely have no idea what he means, although I suspect it's really gross.
Bright_Ices@reddit
And rude af
Vulpix_lover@reddit
"Taking a piss" over here means you're peeing. "Taking the piss" means you're joking around, and in my experience, it's a British saying more than it is American
Murderhornet212@reddit
Most Americans don’t know that phrase
tagun@reddit
I don't think I've ever heard it.
Murderhornet212@reddit
I watch a lot of British TV so I have, but the one time I tried to use it in conversation it went very badly 🤣
tagun@reddit
I just chuckled 😆
Plastic-Sentence9429@reddit
Yeah, there's a difference, but the latter isn't used much in the US.
SnarkyMouse2@reddit
I wonder if your friend thinks you are peeing every time you say that.
nderdog_76@reddit
Yep, that's my take as well.
devnullopinions@reddit
Neither versions are a common thing I hear in my social circles.
devnullopinions@reddit
In my social circles nobody says that.
ENovi@reddit
No, that’s a British thing. If someone said it here most people would think they were talking about urinating and the ones who do know it as a British thing would wonder why that decided to say it like that.
Now that I’ve answered your question maybe you’d be kind enough to answer mine. What the *FUCK* were you going for with “intellectually molested?”
Wooden-Audience5475@reddit
Taking a piss means you're going to the bathroom.
We'd say "I'm fucking with you" or something like that
willtag70@reddit
"Busting chops" in NY.
ENovi@reddit
Which is the more polite way of saying “busting/breaking balls”
RHS1959@reddit
Or “Just shitting you” Americans always want to one-up you.
SkepticalJohn@reddit
Or I'm yanking your chain.
CalmRip@reddit
"Pulling your leg."
CuriousNetWanderer@reddit
Just joshing ya
Arleare13@reddit
Only to refer to using the toilet.
VelocityGrrl39@reddit
>Now there’s a phrase I’ve never heard before and really do not like.
I’m adding it to my list. Right after moist and before panty and loaf.
Drew707@reddit
Intellectual molestation makes my panty loaf moist.
VelocityGrrl39@reddit
Straight to jail.
Side note: there’s a band called moist panty loaf. I’ve never listened to their music, but I hate them.
Drew707@reddit
Decent name for a vulgar garage punk band.
Drew707@reddit
It's more polite than brain raped.
shelwood46@reddit
You're right, that is much worse.
Suppafly@reddit
Only when we're making fun of a british person.
ATLien_3000@reddit
No one in the US uses the word "piss" to mean anything other than urine.
she-dont-use-jellyyy@reddit
Or anger. I'd say I'm pissed or someone was pissed off.
shelwood46@reddit
Which tracks, because we mostly mean angry when we say "mad" while Brits mean "crazy" when they say "mad"
InsertDramaHere@reddit
Oh, you've never heard anyone saying they're pissed/pissed off?
lvdude72@reddit
That’s a wicked pissah.
shelwood46@reddit
I have only heard Brits or Commonwealth dwellers use "Taking the piss" to mean joking. When I hear an American say it I assume they are headed to the restroom to take a piss.
sandbagger45@reddit
I’ve only heard taking the piss used in the UK
TheJokersChild@reddit
"Taking the piss" I think is British for falling for a joke or scam. We never refer to making a joke this way.
SabresBills69@reddit
if I says something like I need to piss….thst means urination.
im pissed off means I’m angry
Anxious-Salamander49@reddit
No, Americans don’t use British slang (and vice versa).
Do you really need to be told that?
InsertDramaHere@reddit
They're probably intellectually molested.
Drew707@reddit
lol I'm dying lol
bjbigplayer@reddit
Girlfriend of mine said she was gonna go hang a lip.
MsSamm@reddit
Haven't heard piss used in any other context ever, aside from a the rare "piss off"
Have heard "fucking around", as in I'm just fucking around or fucking with you.
machagogo@reddit
No.
thewNYC@reddit
That’s more British than American English.
Secure_Highway_6917@reddit
Nope we don’t say that we do say taking a piss it means to pee
Ainjhel32@reddit
I say it all the time but I also use the British spellings for things so I might just be an outlier
InsertDramaHere@reddit
Taking a piss is urinating.
The vast majority of Americans do not use the phrase "taking the piss" because we are not urine collectors (except for golden shower fetishists maybe) We say "I'm just joking/kidding/joshing".
resinrat98@reddit
i didn’t know taking the piss was a thing until i dated a british dude, he also said “car park” and i was so fucking confused.
AtheneSchmidt@reddit
"Taking a piss" is a crude way of saying that you are gonna go pee. "Taking the piss" is not a phrase I have ever heard an American English speaking person say in the wild.
I understand that it means joking around/teasing in British English, and have read and heard it from Brits, but I have never heard someone from America use the phrase.
HorseFeathersFur@reddit
“Taking the piss” is one of the stupidest slang terms I hear from Brits.
Adjective-Noun123456@reddit
No, that's 100% a British thing.
It does sound like you're building up some kind of urine stockpile or something when y'all say it.
weeniehutjunior1234@reddit
And then getting pissed here means getting angry, whereas in the UK it means getting drunk. Regional slang is fun, right?
CheesE4Every1@reddit
Not for drinking
squidtheinky@reddit
I think your friend is under the impression that you are constantly letting him know when you're urinating and he doesn't know what that British phrase means.
AshtonCopernicus@reddit
In my area, "taking the piss" is becoming more popular. But if you said "taking a piss" that means you're going to the bathroom. It's sometimes crazy how a few letters can change the entire meaning of a sentence
The_Lat_Czar@reddit
We use it as rude slang for going to pee.
"BRB, gotta take a piss".
HyperStory@reddit
As others have said, "taking the piss" is a British thing, not used in the States.
That being said, it's a common enough stereotypical British slang that I find it a little shocking your friend is ignorant to it. Sorta like someone from Austrailia saying "g'day mate" and responding "UMM BUT I AM NOT YOUR SEXUAL PARTNER"
Ravenclaw79@reddit
“Taking a piss” means urinating. “Taking the piss” is a British phrase that we never use.
DOMSdeluise@reddit
Americans don't say taking the piss at all. People might understand what it means due to exposure to British English but we don't say it. Taking a piss just means urinating.
tacobellgittcard@reddit
Where are you taking the piss to? Why are you collecting it?
nwbrown@reddit
"Taking a piss" means that you are urinating. "Taking the piss" is not a saying in American English.
srobbinsart@reddit
You’re full of hot, steaming piss if you think calling a friend “intellectually molested” is clever or acceptable.
Taking the piss is thoroughly British slang, and it’s unreasonable to think it’s commonly recognized in the USA.
Fair-Ad2457@reddit
Intellectually molested my New favorite term 😂😂
nwbrown@reddit
He's right, you are wrong. It's "taking a piss."
"Taking the piss" implies there is a single piss that you specifically collecting for some reason.
Phoenix_Court@reddit
"taking a piss" = going pee
"Taking the piss" = joking
"Taking the piss" is a British phrase not used here. If he doesn't watch British media he's probably not familiar with it. What's odd to me is that he didn't understand from context that you did not mean "taking a piss". Surely he knew you were not saying you were peeing yourself?????
Toosder@reddit
Hahaha not really but I remember when I first heard it. I was in London and there was a fire alarm so we're all out standing on the street at 3:00 a.m. . And a guy standing next to me said he pulled the fire alarm handle because he wanted to see some hot firefighters. And I guess I gave him a look of belief and he said he was taking the piss and I was like is he pissing in his pants right now? I was so very very confused. The 3:00 a.m. in a foreign country didn't help.
Aware-Owl4346@reddit
No. Its not a thing here at all. Your American friend probably thinks you have no bladder control.
We might say “pulling your leg” or in the northeast “breaking your balls”
Pitiful_Lion7082@reddit
Piss over here only means urine. Most people, if they've never heard it used any other way are going to think it means you're relieving yourself. No one here says it to mean joking or goofing around.
DistanceRelevant3899@reddit
I don’t.
throwaway564858@reddit
did he think you were peeing every time you said it???
Mathematic_nut@reddit (OP)
Apparently so
He thought I was just throwing in a fun fact every time we were talking 😔
Ok_Entrepreneur_8509@reddit
Don't take one of mine! I only have 2 left and the weekend is coming up!
ReceptionMuch3790@reddit
Taking a piss, sure. Taking the piss, no.
QuantumAttic@reddit
I know what it means because I'm an Anglophile with British lineage. I'm gonna say a full 50% of us don't know what that means. Maybe more.
Im_Not_Nick_Fisher@reddit
Can we all just agree that you are speaking a completely different language. FWIW if you watch British movies or TV you might use this. But it’s definitely not used in the same way here. I’m fucking with you is probably a similar slang for the same thing.
Prestigious-Talk1112@reddit
It's not used in the US but most of us probably understand what you mean and the phrasing sounds a bit weird especially because we don't use the phrase anyway. Taking a piss would be more correct anyway but either way here it's just means that you are peeing lol
Not_An_Isopod@reddit
If we have to pee yes If we are pretending to be British yes.
forceghost187@reddit
Not really but many of us are very familiar with the phrase from British media. To mean the same thing we say things like “I’m just talking shit” or “I’m just fucking around”
PeaksOfTheTwin@reddit
We say I’m just giving you shit
topyardman@reddit
Taking a piss always means peeing. Taking the piss is not said and would confuse many. An American would probably say "bustin your balls" in that context. It is considered somewhat crude, but I think equivalent.
historyhill@reddit
I don't think I've ever heard an American say "I'm just taking the piss"
skaliton@reddit
No. I know what it is referring to as I've lived abroad but it would be like if a southern american came to you and said 'oh bless your heart' where the words and meaning are completely different
Angry_GorillaBS@reddit
Not in the way you do. But if a Brit said it to me I would know what they meant.
zoop1000@reddit
Pulling your leg
pinniped90@reddit
I understand taking the piss but it's not common US usage.
Taking A piss is just havin' a slash.
RubiksCub3d@reddit
I do personally, but I grew up watching a lot of British comedies and interact with a lot of people across the pond...I end up doing a lot of code switching when interacting with people if I'm honest
artemisinagayway@reddit
“Taking the piss” is a very British expression. I’ve never heard anyone say intellectually molested, but I can imagine a British person saying it.
Razzleberry_Pie23@reddit
We don't say "taking the piss" as a way of saying we're joking or messing with someone. We say "taking A piss" when we're actually going to pee.
Temporary-Boot-2247@reddit
good question maths nut, that means taking a whizz as it were. I do like that British “taking the piss” phrase you’re talking about tho
The_Lawn_Ninja@reddit
"Taking a piss" means urinating.
"Taking the piss" isn't really used by Americans unless they're fans of British TV.
areporotastenet@reddit
No, but I’ve told people I have to “go take a piss”
jckipps@reddit
'taking a leak' is more common around here. 'looking for a tree' is common too, on secluded jobsites.
whatsupgrizzlyadams@reddit
No
Wide_Breadfruit_2217@reddit
Slightly more polite versions here. Yanking your chain. Pulling your leg.
Ok_Sentence_5767@reddit
Piss is a vulgar away to say urinate. So it means the person just needs to pee 🤣
SnooPineapples280@reddit
“Taking a piss” is uriniting. I know“taking the piss” is joking but we don’t use that here.
Jeff-Boomhauer88@reddit
Yes, but the proper phrasing is “taking a fat piss.”
Hyper_Applesauce@reddit
We don't use "taking the piss" as slang.
just joshin
just kidding
messing with you
Would be phrases that we would use.
drillbit7@reddit
"Taking the piss" is British for what Americans would call "making fun" (of someone) or "busting chops"/"breaking balls", etc.
"taking a piss" means I'm in the process of urination.
MeltedKeylay@reddit
This is something my mates in UK would say. Not an American thing but can be adopted by an individual, it kinda rolls off the tongue lol
subliminalFreq@reddit
Yes. But it’s not really used among young people anymore. Older white men, yes.
Gilded-Mongoose@reddit
Taking a piss = How Americans say peeing; going to the bathroom; doing #1.
Taking the piss = How Brits say making a joke.
So taking the piss sounds like a grammatically formal and erroneous way of saying having a wee.
PerceptivePines@reddit
I’m taking a piss is a casual, kind of crude sounding , way to say you’re peeing. Said more by guys. Pretty common. I’ve never heard someone say taking THE piss.
secular_contraband@reddit
Nah. That's a British thing. Taking a piss in the US is just going pee.
Asparagus9000@reddit
He's right, it does sound like you're collecting it.
HueyLongest@reddit
"taking a piss" means you're going to the bathroom in America
sighnwaves@reddit
Not the way you do. Taking a piss would imply urinating, mostly used by men.