fish bowl

plural fish bowls · alternative fishbowl

1. A small, rounded, transparent, and domestic aquarium.

   We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl / Year after year

   1975 September 12, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, “Wish You Were Here”, in Wish You Were Here, performed by Pink Floyd

   Synonyms: goldfish bowl

2. broadlyfigurativelyAny place or event that lacks privacy or is intensely scrutinized.

   Synonyms: goldfish bowl

3. figurativelyA variety of discussions where participants are organized in concentric circles and take turns where they and others in the same group are allowed to speak according to a set of rules.First known use a. 1970

   John Hinkle, Outreach Consultant, observing a fishbowl conversation.

   1969, Oklahoma Librarian, volume 19, Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Library Association

   1 more example

   The fishbowl can assume several configurations. Its most common form is simply an inner ring (Group A), which is the discussion group, surrounded by an outer ring (Group B), which is the observation group

   2002, Julius E. Eitington, “Additional Techniques for Small Group Training”, in The Winning Trainer: Winning Ways to Involve People in Learning, 4th edition, Butterworth–Heinemann, →ISBN, page 67

4. figurativelyThe central and smallest circle where the speakers are located in some versions of such a discussion.