couch potato — A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television and being physically inactive
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television and being physically inactive
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkaʊtʃ pəˈteɪtoʊ/
Example Sentences
- My brother is such a couch potato that he ordered pizza delivery instead of walking to the kitchen.
- The doctor warned him that his couch potato lifestyle was affecting his health.
- She decided to stop being a couch potato and joined a gym.
couch potato
NOUN[/ˈkaʊtʃ pəˈteɪtoʊ/]
A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television and being physically inactive
He's been a total couch potato all weekend, glued to the TV.
Couch potato eating potato chips, while the tomato goes bad
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This compound term originated in the United States during the 1970s as a humorous description for people who spend excessive time sitting on a couch watching television, often while snacking on potato chips. The phrase playfully compares sedentary individuals to potatoes—stationary and immobile.
Breakdown
couch (a sofa or seating furniture) + potato (a tuber, used metaphorically for someone inactive and immobile). The phrase humorously equates prolonged inactivity with the starchy vegetable's stationary nature.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My brother is such a couch potato that he ordered pizza delivery instead of walking to the kitchen.”
“The doctor warned him that his couch potato lifestyle was affecting his health.”
“She decided to stop being a couch potato and joined a gym.”
“During the pandemic, many people turned into couch potatoes binge-watching Netflix series.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.