Internet
catfish
What does catfish mean?
In sport, most associated with the ice-hockey tradition where fans hurl a catfish onto the ice, echoing the Detroit Red Wings' octopus custom.
"A fan launched a catfish onto the rink during the playoff game."
Origin
"Catfish" was popularized by the 2010 documentary Catfish and its MTV spin-off series, about online relationships built on fake identities. It became standard slang for online romantic deception.
Frequently asked questions
What does catfish mean?
A catfish is someone who uses a fake online identity to deceive people, especially in dating.
Where did catfish come from?
It was popularized by the 2010 documentary Catfish and its MTV series about online deception.
What does getting catfished mean?
It means being deceived by someone using a fake online persona or misleading photos.
How do you use catfish in a sentence?
For example: "he got catfished" — meaning deceived by a fake profile.
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