fishbowl

or fish bowl

[ fish-bohl ]

noun

1. a glass bowl for goldfish, snails, etc.
2. a place, job, or condition in which one's activities are open to public view or scrutiny.

fishbowl

/ ˈfɪʃˌbəʊl /

noun

1. another name for goldfish bowl

Word History and Origins

Origin of fishbowl¹

First recorded in 1905–10; fish + bowl ¹

Example Sentences

In some paintings, viewers are looking at the world through a microwave door, a fishbowl or a security camera lens.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s a fishbowl by the cash register where you can put your business card for a chance to win a free lunch. Half the cards are from Sinclair people.”

From Literature

She checked the security cameras at her home, noticing that a few windows opened and things fell off the shelf — but the biggest impact was her fishbowl: “My poor fish experienced a little tsunami.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ella felt she was at the very bottom of a fishbowl, everyone gazing down at her, waiting for her to do a trick.

From Literature

"The fishbowl -- not the fish -- needs to change."

From Science Daily