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

By suppressing the call of nature while you’re losing fluid through sweat, the body is trying to maintain that delicate water-to-salt ratio and keep everything working the way it should, she explained.

From Slate

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

Timo Werner is a late arrival out on to the pitch, presumably having been attending a call of nature.

From The Guardian