The colloquial phrase “the trots” is a widely recognized, informal term used to describe diarrhea, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. This linguistic shortcut avoids formal medical terminology by drawing a vivid, motion-based comparison to the physical experience of the ailment. The phrase is rooted in a metaphorical link between a specific type of animal movement and the human body’s urgent intestinal response. Understanding why diarrhea is called “the trots” requires exploring the original meaning of the word “trot” and tracing its adoption into English slang.
The Mechanics of the Metaphor
The word “trot” fundamentally describes a specific gait in a quadruped, most commonly a horse. This gait is faster than a walk but slower than a full gallop, characterized by steady, continuous, and rapid movement. The metaphor is built upon the feeling of urgency and the physical impulse to move quickly and repeatedly that accompanies diarrhea.
The physical symptom of needing to rush to the bathroom is likened to being “on the trot,” a phrase meaning constantly moving or busy. Diarrhea involves hypermotility, where contents move through the intestinal tract too quickly. This rapid, uncontrolled transit mirrors the quick, continuous movement of a horse at a trot, capturing both the speed of the intestinal process and the immediate need to rush to the toilet.
Historical Adoption and Spread of the Term
The use of “the trots” to mean diarrhea is recorded in English slang as far back as 1808, suggesting it became part of the common vernacular around the turn of the 19th century. This adoption likely occurred in parallel with the established phrase “the runs,” with “trots” being a slightly more specific variation. The original “trot” term, derived from the Old French trot, has been used in English since the Middle Ages to describe a horse’s gait.
The term’s popularity may have been influenced by environments where equine language was common, such as military camps or stables. In these contexts, the analogy of a person having to repeatedly “trot” off to the outhouse would have been instantly recognizable. The phrase backdoor trots was an early, descriptive variant emphasizing the location of the urgent trips.
Contextual Use and Related Colloquialisms
“The trots” remains a familiar, informal term, particularly prevalent in British, Australian, and New Zealand English. Its enduring use is part of a linguistic phenomenon where people use motion-based slang to describe the sudden acceleration of the digestive process.
The phrase exists alongside other motion-related euphemisms that focus on speed and urgency, such as “the runs” and “the squirts.” This tendency to link diarrhea to swift travel highlights how the symptoms are perceived as a loss of digestive control and an urgent need to move. These phrases allow for a discreet reference to physical distress without using clinical language.