Sua re causa facere

[Pacifica]

This isn't an insult and it isn't profanity properly speaking either, but I didn't know in what category to put it.

Sua re causa facere.

To do one's business, to relieve oneself, to satisfy the needs of nature.

I must say that I first didn't get the grammar of the expression. Now I think sua re causa is an ablative absolute. "To do, one's business (being) the reason".

 

[Matthaeus]

hmm two nouns basically meaning the same thing , res and causa ... doesn't it kind of seem tautological?
wouldn't sua causa facere or sua re facere have been enough?

 

[Pacifica]

Well, ask that to Petronius! Lol.

 

[Matthaeus]

Ahaa nunc video, haec vero omnia ex Petronii scriptis excerpsisti! Infitias ergo non inierim.