couch
gb/kˈaʊt͡ʃ/ us/kˈaʊt͡ʃ/
A1
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
A long, padded seat
A long, soft seat where two or more people can sit or lie down.
Usage pattern:
to sit/lie on [a couch]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'couch' with 'coach' due to similar pronunciation; spelling and meaning are different.
Synonyms
sofa (Very close synonym; 'sofa' is slightly more formal in some regions.)
|
settee (Less common term, more used in British English.)
Antonyms
chair (A seat for one person, not multiple people.)
Collocations
sit on the couch
|lie on the couch
|leather couch
|comfortable couch
|old couch
Themes
daily life
|home
|furniture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She fell asleep on the couch while watching TV.
- We bought a new leather couch for the living room.
- The dog is not allowed on the couch.
- They sat together on the couch and talked for hours.
Learner examples
- I sit on the couch.
- The couch is big and soft.
- He sleeps on the couch.
- We have a red couch.
Verb
B2
action
2
To phrase or express in words
To say or write something in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
to couch [something] in [terms/words/language]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the noun 'couch' (furniture) and not recognize it as a verb meaning 'to express'.
Synonyms
phrase (Neutral synonym; focuses on wording rather than style or tone.)
|
express (Broader term that doesn't specifically imply careful wording.)
Antonyms
state bluntly (To say something directly without careful or softened wording.)
Collocations
couch in formal terms
|couch carefully
|couch diplomatically
Themes
communication
|language
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He couched his criticism in polite language.
- The proposal was couched in legal terms.
- She couched her request as a suggestion.
Learner examples
- He couched his idea in kind words.
- She couched her question politely.
- They couched the news in soft words.
Grammar
Dictionary form
couch
IPA
GB/kˈaʊt͡ʃ/
US/kˈaʊt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
couch (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (couch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: couch
- Plural: couches
Verb
- Base: couch
- 3rd Person Singular: couches
- Present Participle: couching
- Past: couched
Word family
Forms
couches
noun
couching
verb
couched
verb
Expressions
casting couch
1/kˈæstɪŋ kˈaʊt͡ʃ/
idiom
informal
Sexual favors for career gain in showbiz
An unethical situation in the entertainment industry where someone asks for sexual favors in exchange for a job or role.
Examples
- The scandal exposed widespread use of the casting couch in Hollywood.
- She refused to take part in any casting couch arrangements.
therapy couch
1/θˈɛɹəpi kˈaʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
A couch for psychotherapy patients
A special couch where people lie down during therapy sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Examples
- The patient lay on the therapy couch and began talking about his dreams.
- In old movies, therapy often takes place with the patient on a therapy couch.
couch potato
1/kˈaʊt͡ʃ pətˈeɪtoʊ/
idiom
informal
A very inactive TV watcher
A person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV without doing much else.
Examples
- Don't be such a couch potato—let's go for a walk.
- Since getting that streaming subscription, he's become a real couch potato.
- He's turned into a real couch potato since retiring.
- I don't want to spend my holiday as a couch potato.