Why do we say? "I got to TAKE a poop." Educated debate

[Firehaus]

Do you take a nap?


Sent from my iPhone

[Skully]

This is the response that I found that best explains this concept:

"Take" is an example of what linguists call a "light" verb. It has a standard meaning -- the one where someone gains possession of a thing -- but it has a bunch of other uses too. For example, think of the different meanings of "take" in take a walk, take a bath, take a vitamin, take a nap, take the sun, take a swim, take a class, take a trip, take a moment, take a look, take a tour, take my hand, take a chill pill, take a stab at it, take a job, et cetera, et cetera. Mostly those are things you DO, not things you gain possession of, even though the things you're taking in those phrases are nouns. Same with "take a dump". I hate to say it's "just an expression", but that's basically the answer. Expressions with light verbs are often not literally interpretable. (Other light verbs include "make", "do", and "go".)

Perfect, I was searching for reasoning to the slang non-logical madness. I can throw it at the wife tomorrow and ease her query madness.

Do you take a nap?

Sent from my iPhone

Although"Taking a trip or taking a nap is possession of something." With a poop your technically getting rid of it.

[Skully]

I am finding this thread to be very enlightening.

[TheGrey]

Perfect, I was searching for reasoning to the slang non-logical madness. I can through it at the wife tomorrow.

ALthough "Taking a trip is possession of something." With a poop your technically getting rid of it.

Well, it COULD be argued that "taking a trip" requires you leave one place, and go to another.
English makes little sense.

[Skully]

Well, it COULD be argued that "taking a trip" requires you leave one place, and go to another.
English makes little sense.

That is what she says. 9 years we have been married and she has mentioned multiple times that learning the proper English is not bad, it is all the slang and changes a word can take and be used for that is maddeningly confusing. Spanish is so much easier she says.

[cstone]

Every language has it's colloquialisms. English has some of the best forms of colloquial language. It makes it harder for those learning English but allows us so much color and expression in our conversation.

Such a stimulating conversation.

[GilpinGuy]

Do you "give" or "take" a golden shower?

[TheGrey]

That is what she says. 9 years we have been married and she has mentioned multiple times that learning the proper English is not bad, it is all the slang and changes a word can take and be used for that is maddeningly confusing. Spanish is so much easier.

I can imagine- although slang has its place in every language. I'm afraid I don't know any Spanish to speak of (that college course was long, long ago) but I do recall Spanish required specific articles for each noun. For instance, the sun = "el sol". That's a masculine article. How do they decide which noun requires a masculine article and which requires a feminine?
Every language has little idiosyncrasies like that.

[cstone]

Do you "give" or "take" a golden shower?

Neither...

Moving right along.

[Skully]

Every language has it's colloquialisms. English has some of the best forms of colloquial language. It makes it harder for those learning English but allows us so much color and expression in our conversation.

Such a stimulating conversation.

Just for your Chuck.

I gotta do something to lighten up the LOAD around here.

Now comes the puns................