Who taught: Phil

Shit or get off the pot (source: http://www.someecards.com/)

Winter indoor soccer season has come. Every Monday night from now to the end of March is soccer time for me and Phil.

Last Monday, Phil and I were on the way to the sports complex and we talked about relationship between men and women. In this context, Phil used this expression, “shit or get off the pot.”

Now, let me be very clear upfront here. In general, pot means a container, typically rounded or cylindrical and of ceramic ware or metal, used for storage or cooking. But, pot in this expression means something else. Do you know what else has rounded or cylindrical ceramic ware? It is a toilet.

Now, if you are in a toilet in a public bathroom too long, there are so many people waiting for you to come out. While they are waiting for you outside of the toilet, what would they keep saying? They would say like this, “Come on, dude, shit or get off the pot. People are dying here outside.”

With this feeling, you can use the same expression to a couple who have been engaged for a long time but not really sure about marriage. I mean if they are happy with it, you would not use this expression to them. But, in a case that a guy is your friend and ask your help about what to do with the engagement and not sure whether he needs to marry her or not, then you can try to help him as much as you can, then finally you could say, “OK, I think it is the time to shit or get off the spot,” meaning that it is the time to make a decision.

I believe you can use this expression when you see someone is indecisive to do something. Am I right, my American friends?