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# powder my nose

idiom (verb phrase: powder my nose, powder your nose; used with «go to» or «need to»)

«powder my nose» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, old-fashioned) go to the toilet (said mostly by women).
2. (literal) put make-up powder on one's nose.

### In the lessons

Polite people, especially women in the past, used it to excuse themselves to go to the toilet. Old-fashioned and polite register, all English-speaking countries; now often said jokingly.

### Examples

- Excuse me, I'm just going to powder my nose.
- She went off to powder her nose.
- Grandma always says she needs to powder her nose.
- Where's the powder room? I need to powder my nose.
- The actress powdered her nose before going on stage.
- He joked, «I'm off to powder my nose.»

### Note

Usually it means the toilet, not make-up. Said by a man it is a joke. Plain words: go to the toilet.