have an accident

have an accident

1. To unintentionally do or experience something, usually with unpleasant consequences. Yeah, I had a little accident while trying to carry all those drinks. Can you bring me some towels? Did you hear that Aunt Marie had an accident and broke her foot?
2. To urinate or defecate somewhere other than a toilet. Can you call the janitor? The patient in this hospital room has had an accident.
See also: accident, have
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have an accident

 
1. to experience something that was not foreseen or intended. Traffic is very bad. I almost had an accident. Drive carefully. Try to avoid having an accident.
2. Euph. to lose control of the bowels or the bladder. (Usually said of a young child.) "Oh, Ann," cried Mother. "It looks like you've had an accident!" Mother asked Billy to go to the bathroom before they left so that he wouldn't have an accident in the car.
See also: accident, have
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • by accident
  • bump into
  • bump into (someone or something)
  • knock someone out
  • knock something out
  • knocked out
  • knockout
  • give (oneself) away
  • give away
  • coincidence
References in periodicals archive
"I was on my way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident."
Watch out for that octopus and avoid crash course in road safety
"There were times when I'd think, 'If I were just to have an accident on the way to the studio and win a couple of days off to recover, how brilliant would that be?"' The keen blues player is set to release a second album and will also star in Tomorrowland with George Clooney.
HOUSE NIGHTMARE FOR TV STAR HUGH
Anyone taking the test this month should be warned that fewer pass in December than in any other month of the year - but these who do are also the ones least likely to have an accident.
August is the best month for passing driving test; PERSONAL FINANCE
If you have an accident, you may be more likely to be blamed.
Stay on right side of Euro law
According to statistics just released, twenty-somethings are three times as likely as a teen driver to have an accident.
DRIVETIME: MOTORING: TEEN DRIVERS ARE SAFEST ON ROADS; THOSE IN 20S AND 30S AT GREATEST RISK OF ACCIDENTS
They are twice as likely to have an accident or suffer an illness as a black labrador, with 55 per cent of owners making an insurance claim to cover the cost of treatment, according to Tesco Personal Finance.
Subday Mirror money: Cut pet costs at a stroke; IT PAYS TO INSURE
''Churchill's data shows that motorists are twice as likely to have an accident in treacherous weather conditions and are heightening their chances if they cannot properly see where they are going.''
DRIVERS DE-ICING WITH DEATH; For safety's sake, at least buy a scraper and clear the windscreen
If you have an accident, check the seat for signs of damage.
Motoring: Good seats can make all the difference
But they claimed chatting on a mobile while driving made motorists four times more likely to have an accident. The increased risk occurred even in the case of a hands-free cellphone.
Driving is real mobile menace