a casting couch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a casting couch" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a situation in the entertainment industry where someone is expected to engage in sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities. Example: "The allegations surrounding the director's behavior have brought the issue of the casting couch back into the spotlight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There's definitely something called a casting couch.

The Guardian

It makes you wonder if you have a casting couch.

The New York Times - Magazine

She cited a 1990 film, "Promotion canapé," a title that refers to a casting couch.

The New York Times

The love seat, called Mouth (above right, $5,672), dressed in bordello-red upholstery, looks like a casting couch for "Sex and the City".

The New York Times

This symbol of New York landed last week in the heart of Hollywood, with a cluster of balloons and a cheeky billboard campaign that includes an off-color joke about a casting couch.

The New York Times

It's a choose-your-own-adventure game in which you play a director on a casting couch trying to get an actress to take off her clothes and engage in other unseemly behavior.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But there is also a vast unacknowledged history of normalised abuse - virtually every female star and many male stars have endured a casting-couch assault, although the MO has of course been offscreen.

The Guardian - Film

Made in collaboration with architectural designer Terrence Schroeder, the darkened room possesses a series of traditionally masculine elements and signifiers like a blue leather casting couch, an idle cigar cutter, and bottles of whiskey, punctuated with artificial hair extensions, functioning as feminine 'growths' of sorts throughout the highly male space.

Vice

A glass-top Noguchi coffee table is in the living room, next to a white Jonathan Adler casting couch covered in a sheepskin throw from Costco.

The New York Times

It might sound a prim precaution in the bohemian world of entertainment, but in an industry where the casting couch is still a tacitly recognised route to the top, it may have its place.

The Guardian - Film

At least in part, that's thanks to the mythology of the casting couch, a polite, sanitized euphemism that obscures a host of ugly realities ― and has been doing so since the early days of Hollywood.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "a casting couch", be sensitive to the serious implications of sexual harassment and abuse of power. Use precise language to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a casting couch" lightly or as a joke. It represents a serious form of exploitation and should be treated with respect and gravity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a casting couch" functions as a noun phrase, typically referring to a situation where individuals are expected to provide sexual favors in exchange for career advancement within the entertainment industry. Ludwig confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a casting couch" is a noun phrase that refers to the exploitative practice of demanding sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities, primarily in the entertainment industry. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, where it is used to report on and discuss instances of sexual harassment and abuse of power. While the term itself may seem outdated, the underlying issue remains relevant today. When using "a casting couch", it's essential to be sensitive to the serious implications of sexual harassment and abuse of power and to avoid using the term casually or humorously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sexual coercion for roles

Directly addresses the use of coercion to obtain sexual favors in exchange for acting roles.

exploitation in the film industry

Highlights the exploitative nature of the practice.

quid pro quo arrangement in Hollywood

Focuses on the exchange aspect, specifically within the Hollywood context.

sexual harassment in auditions

Focuses on the harassment aspect during the audition process.

predatory behavior in Hollywood

Highlights the predatory nature of the actions within the Hollywood system.

abuse of power for sexual favors in Hollywood

Emphasizes the abuse of power dynamics and the sexual nature of the coercion.

trading sex for opportunities in show business

Describes the exchange of sexual acts for professional advancement in the entertainment industry.

the Harvey Weinstein scenario

Alludes to a specific, well-known case that exemplifies the concept.

the dark side of Hollywood's casting process

General reference to illicit casting activities.

unethical practices in the entertainment industry

A more general term for illicit and unfair activities related to job placement.

FAQs

What does the term "a casting couch" refer to?

The term "a casting couch" refers to the unethical practice in the entertainment industry where individuals in positions of power demand sexual favors in exchange for career opportunities.

What are some alternative ways to describe "a casting couch"?

You can use alternatives like "sexual coercion for roles", "exploitation in the film industry", or "quid pro quo arrangement in Hollywood" depending on the specific context.

Is "a casting couch" an outdated concept?

While the term may evoke images of old Hollywood, the underlying issue of power imbalances and sexual exploitation in the entertainment industry remains relevant today.

How can I avoid perpetuating the normalization of "a casting couch" in my writing?

Avoid using the term casually or humorously. Instead, focus on the serious implications of the practice and use respectful and accurate language when discussing it.