powder one's nose

English

Etymology

From the lavatory's use as a place to apply makeup.

Verb

powder one's nose (third-person singular simple present powders one's nose, present participle powdering one's nose, simple past and past participle powdered one's nose)

  1. (euphemistic, typically of women) To visit a lavatory to use a toilet, reapply makeup, (when used of a group of women) engage in private conversation, etc.
    I'll be right back. I just have to powder my nose.
    C'mon girls; let's go powder our noses.
  2. (slang) To snort cocaine or other types of drugs via one's nose.
    The cokehead couldn't go more than a couple hours without powdering his nose.
    • 1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman):
      Well I'll tell you what, I'll go to the bathroom and powder my nose, while you sit here and think of something to say.

See also

Further reading

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