take the p1ss...why do we say that to mean ridicule, or taking liberties?

[joko]

as above really
thanks

[TTG]

I've never understood that expression either. If someone takes that out of you, isn't it a good thing? After all why would you want to keep ps?

[alfiesgirl]

I think it may have come from victorian times when the lowest maid in the house used to be the one to empty the chamber pots...but i may be wrong?

[Quizmonster]

Cick <A href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tak
2.htm>
here for the answer.

[Quizmonster]

Sorry, I messed up the link, but if you go to the web-page I offered, you'll find out.

[Quizmonster]

<A href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tak


2.htm"> click <A>

[Quizmonster]

I give up!

[another-view]

Allow me
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tak2.htm

[alfiesgirl]

well that was me totally wrong then lol

[joko]

mmm...thats sounds rubbish...i prefer alfies version! hehe

also makes more sense!

[Bobbisox]

when you 'extract ' the urine I suppose ????

[joko]

how would you 'extract; urine? and why?

surely you just expel it.

[alfiesgirl]

pmsl

[Quizmonster]

Well, you may think it's rubbish, Joko, but Michael Quinion - who runs Worldwidewords - is not just ANY website controller, he's a noted etymologist and lexicographer...ie he's a known expert in the origin of words and phrases. So, whilst Alfiesgirl's answer may be more appealing, Quinion's is almost certainly right. It's hard to see how Victorian chambermaids' activities could possibly have been described as "taking the p OUT OF" anyone or how emptying chamberpots could possibly mean "ridiculing" the people who filled them!
But what the hey!

[alfiesgirl]

Michael Quinions answer was good enough for me and sounded feasible i think. I have no idea where my reply came from though as it was there in the back of my head already and up it cropped when i saw the question ..i really thought it was the correct answer when i wrote it but obviously whoever had told it to me was wrong..Guilty as charged m'lud!

[Quizmonster]

I wasn't really criticising your answer, as such, A'sG, only pointing out that I didn't think it was right. Well done for having a stab at it, in fact. I myself had no idea what the answer was until I found the Quinion one some years ago. Having had so much trouble in providing the link - thanks for your timely intervention, AV - I'll now build it into my own little encyclopædia for future use.