potty

Everyday

1. A small plastic seat-bowl that a toddler uses as a toilet while learning. tree →
2. (informal) «Go potty» means go to the toilet (said to little children). tree →
3. (UK informal) Slightly crazy or silly: My grandma's gone potty. tree →
4. (UK informal) «Potty about» means very keen on: She's potty about horses. tree →
5. A «potty mouth» (US slang) is someone who swears a lot. tree →

In the lessons

In family life toddlers do «potty training». In UK speech «potty» also means daft or mad in a gentle, joking way, or crazy about something. In stories a potty professor invents odd machines. Phrases: «potty training», «go potty», «drive someone potty», «potty about», «potty mouth».

Examples

• My baby brother is learning to use the potty. tree →
• Do you need to go potty before we leave? tree →
• All this noise is driving me potty! tree →
• She's potty about ponies. tree →
• The potty inventor made a flying teapot. tree →
• Mum says I have a potty mouth when I say bad words. tree →
• Potty training took a few weeks. tree →

Note

Plural: potties. «Potty» meaning crazy is UK/Ireland/Australia informal and mild; do not use it to talk about real mental illness. Similar informal words: dotty, nutty, bonkers.