Learn English – What does the expression “pissing on ice” mean

meaning

In the film "Chinatown" Jake Gittes uses the expression "We'll be pissing on ice". What does it mean?

Best Answer

I found this explanation from TheFreeDictionary.com (near the bottom of the page):

piss on ice To live luxuriously; to live high off the hog; to be wealthy, successful, or lucky. It was once the custom in posh restaurants to place a cake of ice in the urinals of men’s rooms. Thus, this expression implies that the only men who urinated on ice were those wealthy enough to patronize these exclusive and expensive dining establishments.

It also seems to be corroborated by Urban Dictionary:

To be financially well to do, or generally fortunate.

term from the early 1900's where public places would have troughs to piss in and the piss would just run out, no runnning water or anything. The high price places would put ice in the trough so you piss would melt the ice and drain, producing less smell. therfore if you were rich you were "pissing on ice".