call of nature—
1. the urge to go and explore new (undeveloped) regions:
- I felt the call of nature most strongly and began, like the citizens in Hardy’s poem, to “dream of the south and west.”
2. (euph.) is used of a need to go to the toilet:
- He would suggest dropping in at the Monico, pretext a call of nature.
3. said of the natural desires and instincts:
- You must expect George to start being interested in girls at his age. It’s the call of nature.
call of the wild— = call of nature 1:
- Several times my father made an attempt to settle down, but the call of the wild would prove too strong.