phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Taken/Caught Short

Posted by TheFallen on February 07, 2003

In Reply to: Looking for the origin of a Southern US phrase...."took short" posted by Mollena (Mo) Williams on February 07, 2003

: Hi!

: I am doing dramaturgy work on an Edward Bond play entitled "A-A-America". One of the lines in the play reads as follows:

: ***

: STAGEHAND 1: My kids told the wife she took t' goin down the river. Make out she's took short. Hitch up her skirt an squat. The long yeller grass tickle her tail. Regular habit.

: ***

: We are musing over that "took short" might mean in this context: any insight you can provide would be most appreciated!

: ~Mollena

This phrase is also understood in the UK, though over here it'd be more normally "caught short". It means finding oneself absolutely having to urinate (or defecate) without there being a restroom within attainable distance.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.