fishbowl

American  

[fish-bohl] / ˈfɪʃˌboʊl /

Or fish bowl

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.

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fishbowl British  

/ ˈfɪʃˌbəʊl /

noun

1. another name for goldfish bowl

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Etymology

Origin of fishbowl

First recorded in 1905–10; fish + bowl ¹

Example Sentences

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 • Feb. 9, 2024

We see some guileless part of ourselves within him — a half-formed reflection in his goldfish Dorothy’s fishbowl that’s been crusted over by the steady gnawing of time.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2024

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

From Science Daily • Jan. 2, 2024

Inside a fishbowl, the goldfish — a species of carp native to East Asia, bred for aesthetic delight and traditionally believed to bring good fortune — is hardly more than home décor.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2023

I didn’t go near Room 5’s paste, thought Ralph, as he trotted nervously around the fishbowl to make sure his legs worked.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary