goggle box
A fondly sardonic British slang term for the television set, emphasizing the wide-eyed, passive staring that watching TV supposedly induces.
Definitions
A fondly sardonic British slang term for the television set, emphasizing the wide-eyed, passive staring that watching TV supposedly induces. The word carries a gentle implied criticism — goggling at a box — but is mostly used with affectionate resignation rather than genuine scorn. It dates from the early days of mass TV ownership in Britain and remains recognizable today, showing up in everyday conversation and the title of the popular UK reality show 'Gogglebox.'
After a long week at work, all he wanted was to park himself in front of the goggle-box with a cup of tea.
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(Britain, slang) A television set.
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- Digibox71%
A British colloquial term for a digital set-top box — the device that decodes digital television broadcasts and connects to a standard TV. 'Digibox' was originally a specific brand name for BSkyB's digital receiver but became generic slang for any set-top box in the UK, similar to how 'Hoover' became synonymous with vacuum cleaners. During the 1990s and 2000s digital TV rollout in Britain, getting a Digibox was a household milestone, and the term became embedded in everyday British vocabulary.
- idiot box67%
(idiomatic, chiefly, US, and, Canada) Television.
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(UK, Ireland, informal) A device providing unauthorized access to encrypted television or streaming services.
- idiot's lantern63%
The idiot's lantern is a wonderfully snarky old British nickname for the television — the glowing box in the corner that keeps millions staring slack-jawed for hours. It captured the mid-20th century suspicion that TV was rotting people's brains long before smartphones took the blame. Still gets dusted off sarcastically when someone wants to take a swipe at binge culture.