Dictionary

casting couch en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (euphemistic) The now illegal practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment, particularly in the entertainment industry.
   • It wasn’t sexual assault, Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers argue in his defense, just the casting couch, with benefits for everyone who took a seat. 2020 January 29, Patricia Hurtado, “Weinstein Prosecutors Build Case That Casting Couch Was Trap”, in Bloomberg News:
   • ...when a writing test at a radio station turned into the casting-couch routine. She was typing a piece of copy when she realized the station manager had locked the door and was caressing her shoulders. 1978 June, Caryl Rivers, “Sexual Harassment: The executive's alternative to rape”, in Mother Jones Magazine, volume 3, number 5, page 22:
   • What the term "casting couch" hints at is that roles or jobs are given in exchange for sexual favors. 1982, Martin A. David, The dancer's audition book, page 111:
   • casting couch: This refers to the alleged practice by some Hollywood producers and directors of furnishing an office with a couch, upon which would-be actresses perform special services in return for casting consideration... 2005, Dave Knox, Strike the baby and kill the blonde: an insider's guide to film slang, page 45:
2. (slang) An actual couch or sofa used for this practice.
   • There was a wide damask covered divan in a shadowy corner, like a casting couch. 1940, Raymond Chandler, chapter 8, in Farewell, My Lovely:

Forms

Translations (8)

ru кастинг-кауч (sofa) · az kastinq-kauç (sofa) · hu szereposztó dívány (sofa) · mn кастинг-кауч (sofa) · ca favors sexuals (illegal practice) · pt teste do sofá (illegal practice) · az кастинг-кауч (sofa) · sv knullsoffa (sofa)