This is a humorous and colloquial phrase in Spanish that means 'to go to the bathroom', especially to urinate. It is equivalent to the English slang 'to drain the lizard'. The phrase is indirect, referring to the action of changing the water in a canary bird's cage, which is a common pet in Spanish-speaking countries.
Examples
- Spanish: Espera un momento, necesito cambiarle el agua al canario pajarito.
- English: Wait a moment, I need to go to the bathroom.