guilty pleasure

American  

[gil-tee plezh-er] / ˈgɪl ti ˈplɛʒ ər /

noun

1. an activity, habit, food, etc., that a person feels shame or guilt for enjoying, often because they feel they will be judged by others.

   TV shows meant for teens are a guilty pleasure many adults just can't get enough of.

   Eating healthfully is important, but treating yourself to a guilty pleasure from time to time is definitely not a crime.

---

Etymology

Origin of guilty pleasure

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

And yet, “Frankenstein” was met with an air of prestige, while “Wuthering Heights” has been treated like a guilty pleasure.

From Salon

And yet, “Frankenstein” was met with an air of prestige, while “Wuthering Heights” has been treated like a guilty pleasure.

From Salon

When we decided to rank the best Los Angeles movies, we thought 101 titles would be plenty: room enough for undeniable classics, personal obsessions, even a guilty pleasure or two.

From Los Angeles Times

Treat the Trader Joe’s freezer aisle — or your local equivalent — as infrastructure, not a guilty pleasure.

From Salon

Dawson's Creek was my guilty pleasure in the late 90s.

From BBC