casting couch

plural casting couches · alternative casting-couch

1. euphemisticThe now illegal practice of soliciting sexual favors from a job applicant in exchange for employment, particularly in the entertainment industry.

   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

   3 more examples

   ...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

   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

   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

2. slangAn 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