couch
couch
Pronunciation
/kaʊtʃ/.
/kaʊtʃ/
/k/: voiceless velar stop
/aʊ/: diphthong (starts with an open front unrounded vowel, glides to a near-close near-back rounded vowel)
/tʃ/: voiceless post-alveolar affricate
Word Form Variations
Noun Forms:
Singular: couch (e.g., "I bought a new couch.")
Plural: couches (e.g., "We have two couches in the living room.")
Verb Forms:
The verb "couch" is typically used in a more formal or specific sense, often meaning "to express (something) in a particular way."
Base Form/Infinitive: couch (e.g., "You should couch your criticism carefully.")
Present Simple (third person singular): couches (e.g., "He always couches his advice in a friendly tone.")
Present Participle: couching (e.g., "She is couching her request in very polite terms.")
Past Simple: couched (e.g., "The letter was couched in vague language.")
Past Participle: couched (e.g., "His concerns were couched as suggestions.")
Less Common/Related Forms:
Adjective: While "couch" itself isn't typically an adjective, related terms like "couchy" exist, though they are less common and often mean "resembling a couch" or "comfortable like a couch."
Compound Nouns: "Couch" is also part of compound nouns, most notably "couch potato."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A comfortable, elongated piece of upholstered furniture designed for multiple people to sit or recline upon, typically found in a living room or lounge.
Synonyms: sofa, settee, lounge, divan, davenport, chesterfield
Antonyms: chair, stool, bench (in the sense of a rigid, less comfortable seating option)
Definition: A narrow bed or padded table used for patients to lie on during medical examinations, therapy, or consultations, particularly in a psychiatrist's or doctor's office.
Synonyms: examining table, bed, cot (in a medical context), plinth
Antonyms: (Not directly applicable, as it refers to a specific type of furniture for a specific purpose.)
Verb
Definition: To express or formulate something (such as an idea, statement, or criticism) in a particular manner, style, or choice of words, often to soften or obscure its true intent.
Synonyms: phrase, word, express, formulate, articulate, frame, put, state, clothe
Antonyms: reveal directly, blurt out, state bluntly, speak plainly, disclose, unmask
Definition: (Archaic or formal) To lie down or cause to lie down, typically for rest or sleep.
Synonyms: recline, lie, repose, stretch out, rest
Antonyms: stand, arise, sit up, get up
Definition: (Obsolete/Rare) To lower or set something down, especially a spear or lance, in preparation for attack.
Synonyms: lower, set, position, brace
Antonyms: raise, lift, hoist
Examples of Use
Books:
"She sank onto the comfortable couch, pulling a blanket over her. The silence of the house enveloped her, broken only by the distant hum of the refrigerator." (Excerpt from a fictional novel)
"Freud's famous couch became a symbol of psychoanalysis, where patients would recline and free-associate." (From a non-fiction book on the history of psychology)
Newspapers:
"The local furniture store is having a massive sale on living room sets, with discounts on all their new couches and recliners." (Nairobi Star)
"In an effort to avoid appearing confrontational, the minister's statement was carefully couched in diplomatic language, emphasizing cooperation rather than demands." (The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Top 10 Tips for Cleaning Your Fabric Couch Without Damaging It." (Apartment Therapy, published online)
"Tech giants often couch their data collection policies in complex legal jargon, making it difficult for users to understand what information is truly being shared." (Wired.com, recent article)
"Are you a couch potato? Here's how to break the habit and get more active." (Healthline.com, lifestyle article)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "Just relax on the couch, I'll bring you a cup of tea." (A character comforting another in a TV drama)
Film (Scene Description): [Camera pans to a cluttered living room, a cat sleeping on the back of a worn-out couch.]
Podcasts (Discussion): "We discussed how often marketing campaigns are couched in terms of 'empowerment,' even when the underlying message is consumerism." (A popular marketing podcast episode)
Music (Lyrics): "Sitting on the couch, watching the world go by, another lonely night beneath a digital sky." (Lyrics from a contemporary song)
Video Games (Dialogue/Lore): "The ancient prophecy was couched in riddles, making its true meaning elusive for centuries." (In-game text or dialogue from a fantasy RPG)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you help me move this couch to the other side of the room?" (Everyday conversation among friends or family)
"He tried to couch his rejection gently, but she still understood he wasn't interested." (Describing a social interaction)
"I just want to get home and fall asleep on the couch after this long day." (Casual remark by a tired individual)
"My therapist's office has a really comfy couch." (Personal anecdote)
10 Famous Quotes Using Couch
"The unexamined life is not worth living." This famous quote by Socrates, though not using "couch," is often associated with the introspective process that can occur on a therapist's "couch." (Socrates)
"What a lot of people don't realize about the couch is that it's a sacred space, where secrets are told, and fears are faced." (Unknown, often attributed to therapists or mental health advocates)
"I was thinking that it's not the world that's gone crazy, it's just that it's always been crazy, and I'm just now noticing because I've been off the couch." (A metaphorical quote reflecting a shift from passive observation to active engagement, often found in self-help or motivational contexts)
"Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts. And the way to couch a fact, if you're a journalist, is to couch it in such a way that it is verifiable." (Attributed to journalism ethics discussions)
"A good book is an excellent companion, especially on a rainy day when you're couched on the sofa." (General sentiment, often found in literary discussions)
"He used to say that a man who knows how to couch his words well can make a fortune in politics." (Fictional character's dialogue, common in political dramas)
"The problem with being a couch potato is that you miss all the fun happening outside." (Common idiom, origin difficult to pinpoint, but widely used in public discourse)
"Language is not simply a reporting device for experience but a shaping force for it; we couch our experiences in language, and that language shapes what we experience." (Benjamin Lee Whorf, a prominent linguist)
"She found him stretched out on the couch, lost in thought, a book open on his chest." (Descriptive prose from literature)
"The truth, if not couched in kindness, can be a brutal weapon." (Aphorism, often found in discussions about communication and empathy)
Etymology
The word "couch" has a rich history, coming to English from French, and ultimately, Latin.
Its earliest known uses in English, around the 14th century (specifically the mid-1300s), were primarily as a verb. It meant "to lay down" or "to place." Think of it like "to set something in place."
This verb form came from the Old French verb "coucher" or "colchier", which meant "to lie down" or "to go to bed." This French verb, in turn, traced its roots back to the Latin word "collocare", meaning "to set in place" or "to arrange." The Latin word itself is a combination of "com-" (meaning "with" or "together") and "locare" (meaning "to place" from "locus," which means "a place"). So, at its very core, the idea behind "couch" was about putting something in a specific spot, often for rest.
Soon after, in the mid-14th century (around 1340), "couch" also started being used as a noun. At first, it simply referred to a "bed" or "lair." This noun form also came directly from the Old French noun "couche", which meant "a bed" or "lair."
Over time, the meaning of the noun "couch" evolved to specifically mean a "long seat upon which one rests at full length," which is closer to our modern understanding of the furniture. The verb "couch" also developed various other meanings, such as to "express something in a particular way" (like "couching an argument"), which still carries the idea of arranging or placing words carefully.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Couch
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "couch," along with some supplementary options:
Common Phrases & Idioms with "Couch":
Couch potato: A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying on a couch, usually watching TV or playing video games.
To couch something in terms: To express something in a particular way or using specific language.
To couch a lance/spear: (Archaic/Historical) To lower a lance or spear into position for attack, typically by a knight on horseback.
On the couch: Referring to undergoing psychotherapy, often implying a deep personal discussion.
Couch surfing: The practice of staying at someone's house for free, sleeping on their couch or spare bed, usually for a short period.
Couch tour: (Figurative) A virtual tour or exploration of a place from the comfort of one's home.
Lesser-Known / Original Phrases / Synonym-Based Idioms:
Couch comfort: The state of being relaxed and at ease, as if lounging on a comfortable couch.
To couch one's fears: To suppress or hide one's anxieties or apprehensions.
A study couch: A comfortable piece of furniture in a study, often used for reading or contemplation. (Original phrase)
Sofa king comfortable: (Playful idiom, using "sofa" as a synonym) Extremely comfortable.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of couch from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
