cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7647804
this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
251 points (98.5% liked)
British Problems
1501 readers
1 users here now
British Problems
Complain about problems only a Brit would understand, the weather, trains, the people on the telly...
Rules
- Be friendly.
- Be Kind.
- Follow Feddit.uk site rules.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Taking a piss means going to urinate.
Taking the piss means screwing with someone, specifically by saying stuff you don’t believe as if you believe it.
I’ve never heard any variation on this phrase to mean loafing around as a euphemism, but taking frequent bathroom breaks is definitely a time-honored way of avoiding work.
Full disclosure: I am not British
The second meaning is a bit like "you are pushing your luck" or being unreasonable, usually at someone else's expense.
Taking the piss can mean going too far with some form of poor behaviour, usually at work, eg taking a two hour lunch hour might be taking the piss, or sparking up a joint during a ciggie break.
But it can also be in a social, non-work content: "It's fair enough to ask for petrol money, but Bob was taking the piss when he asked for a quid a mile, the cheeky cunt."