nature

*second nature to someone

easy and natural for someone. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) Swimming is second nature to Jane. Flying a helicopter is no problem for Bob. It's become second nature to him.

See also: second

call of nature

Euph. the need to go to the lavatory. Stop the car here! I have to answer the call of nature. There was no break in the agenda, not even for the call of nature.

See also: call

Nature abhors a vacuum.

Prov. If there is a gap, something will fill it. Jill: As soon as the beggar who used to work that corner left, another one showed up. Jane: Nature abhors a vacuum.

See also: vacuum

nature stop

Fig. a stop to use the toilet, especially during road travel. I think I need a nature stop when it's convenient. I left my comb back at the last nature stop.

See also: stop

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Prov. Every living thing will fight to survive.; It is natural to think of yourself first. When foe's best friend was arrested, Joe pretended not to know him. "Perhaps it wasn't very loyal of me," he thought, "but self-preservation is the first law of nature."

See also: first, law

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answer the call of nature  (humorous)

to urinate (= pass liquid from the body) I had to go into the woods to answer the call of nature.

See also: answer, call

be (in) the nature of the beast

if something unpleasant is in the nature of the beast, it cannot be avoided because it is part of the character of something Relationships always involve some degree of dependence. It's in the nature of the beast.

See also: beast

let nature take its course

to allow someone or something to live or die naturally By this stage, her illness was so severe that the doctors agreed to let nature take its course rather than prolong her suffering. We plant the seeds in springtime and then just let nature take its course.

See also: course, let, take

Mother Nature

the force that controls the natural world Look at those trees blown down in the storm. Just shows you what Mother Nature can do when she gets angry.

See also: mother

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(that's) the nature of the beast

this is the basic character of something The place is wild and beautiful and also dangerous – that's the nature of the beast. People make progress but do not reach perfection because imperfection is the nature of the beast.

See also: beast

let nature take its course

to allow something to happen naturally Normally, the Parks Department lets nature take its course and doesn't replace dead trees, but this situation is different.

See also: course, let, take