Idiom of the week: a couch potato

Winter is long... But now that spring is finally here (yippee!), we have no excuse to be couch potatoes any more.

This is a classic of English learning! I'm sure many of you have already heard about this idiom. But if you haven't, don't worry -it's an easy one! If you're a couch potato, it means you're spending your free time sitting around idly, and most probably watching TV. 

The expression dates from the late 1970s, so it is relative new. Apparently, it was born as a pun on "boob tuber": a "boob tube" is US slang for a television set, and a "tuber" is an underground stem (thus, a potato). However, popular interpretations tend to focus less on etymology and more on ideas. So, some people believe the expression comes from the usual fact of nibbling on potato chips while we're sitting on a sofa and watching TV, and others think it comes from "vegging out" in front of the TV. 

I told you: it's easy. You'll probably remember this idiom because we can all picture ourselves as unattractive potatoes, sitting on a sofa, and getting bigger and bigger due to a lack of physical activity.

So, don't be a couch potato! Go out and get some fresh air!