Brit euphemism...

[Bethany K. Dumas]

On Tue, 7 Dec 1999, Bruce Dykes wrote:
>I heard one new to me from our London office:
>"He's gone to spend a penny."

It's not new, it's very old. Under the old currency, it took a large
copper penny to open the stall door. I have wondered since 1971 (when
decimal cxurrency completely replaced the old currency) if the phrase
would survive. I am delighed to see that it has.

(I have a number of large copper pennies on hand, if anyone needs one.)

Bethany