Spend Penny or Spend a Penny: Which Is Correct?

"Spend penny" is a misapprehension of "spend a penny," which is an informal British idiom that means going to the restroom to urinate. It is a lighthearted and euphemistic way of referring to the act of using the bathroom. The phrase originates from the practice of having to insert a penny into a coin-operated public toilet stall in the UK.

For example, if a British person says, "Please excuse me, I need to spend a penny," then she means she needs to go to the restroom. In the UK, they may call the restroom the "loo" or "lavatory"; whereas in the US, the terms "restroom" and "bathroom" are more commonly used.

The phrase is not commonly used in the US or other English-speaking nations, and its use has also declined in the UK in recent times. The phrase was more widely used in the UK when public toilets required exactly a penny to be used.

Example sentences

Excuse me, I need to spend a penny before we continue our journey.
The long road trip made us stop frequently for restroom breaks, and I spent a penny at each rest area.
After enjoying a few cups of tea, I had to spend a penny quite urgently.
She discreetly excused herself from the meeting, explaining that she needed to spend a penny.
During the play intermission, everyone rushed to spend a penny before the play resumed.
The event lasted for hours, and I found myself spending a penny multiple times.
Even though it was a short flight, I had to spend a penny before the plane landed.
He grinned and said, "I'll meet you outside in a minute; I just need to spend a penny."
While exploring the historic sites, I made sure to locate places to spend a penny.
The amusement park had plenty of restroom facilities, making it convenient to spend a penny.

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