Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A transparent bowl in which live fish are kept.
  • noun Informal A place that is lacking in privacy.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A small simple aquarium.
  • noun A term describing a place or event of intense scrutiny. Enthusiastic sports cities are often said to place the players on their team in a "fishbowl" atmosphere.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a transparent bowl in which small fish are kept
  • noun a state of affairs in which you have no privacy

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Living in a fishbowl is a weird thing, even when you’re too little to really know what’s going on.

    Reading Notes « Tales from the Reading Room 2009

  • A plan has been unveiled for a "fishbowl" - like by Valerie Conners | 10.13.08 | 3: 42 PM ET

    World Hum 2009

  • It's referred to as the "fishbowl" because of the concave translucent panels that form half of the wall space surrounding it.

    The Heavyweights 2011

  • Neil Bloom An area known as the fishbowl is surrounded by windows overlooking the Rock River and has become a favorite hang-out for employees.

    Over the Border 2011

  • He's going to be in a place called the fishbowl (ph), where he'll be designated.

    CNN Transcript Dec 5, 2008 2008

  • In the newsroom — called the fishbowl — are crammed three groups, compared by one dramatic industry type as the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds of network news.

    Katie Go-Nightly 2007

  • In the newsroom — called the fishbowl — are crammed three groups, compared by one dramatic industry type as the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds of network news.

    Katie Go-Nightly 2007

  • Compared to Brookways, a fishbowl is a mountain retreat.

    You Live Once MacDonald, John D. 1956

  • The series has often been compared to a sandbox but I think a fishbowl is a more apt analogy for IV.

    IGN PS3 2010

  • The series has often been compared to a sandbox but I think a fishbowl is a more apt analogy for IV.

    IGN PC 2010

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