water cooler

American  

noun

1. a container for holding drinking water that is cooled and drawn off by a faucet or spigot.

2. a drinking fountain in which water is cooled by mechanical refrigeration.

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water cooler British  

noun

1. a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water

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1. informal

   1. indicating the kind of informal conversation among office staff that takes place at such a dispenser

      water-cooler conversations

   2. indicating an event, television programme, etc, sufficiently controversial or otherwise noteworthy to provide subject matter for such conversations

      water-cooler television

      a water-cooler moment

Etymology

Origin of water cooler

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Shipka got her start when she was just 6 years old on “Mad Men,” a series filled with the kind of jaw-dropping sequences made for water cooler conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re not spending as much time together in person, and the bar is such an easy way to do that. It’s almost like a water cooler conversation that you don’t have as much anymore.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But this twist means the series is off to a promising start and will have people sharing their theories by water coolers in offices around the country.

From BBC

“It’s like the modern day water cooler, essentially.”

From Los Angeles Times

Even when we grouse about our jobs, by the water cooler and over Slack, the complaint is rarely about working hard.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• water fountain