glotzen
to stare
Colloquial for staring intensely, often rudely or stupidly, at a person or thing.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, so zu glotzen, das ist unhöflich!
Stop staring like that, it's rude!
glotzen
to stare / watch TV
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Meanings
glotzen
to watch TV
Very colloquial for watching television, often with the connotation that you are sitting passively in front of the device for a long time.
EXAMPLE
Am Sonntagabend will ich einfach nur auf dem Sofa liegen und in die Glotze glotzen.
On Sunday evening, I just want to lie on the sofa and watch the tube.
Usage tips
Register
'Glotzen' (to stare/watch TV) is a very colloquial word and is often used negatively or disparagingly. You should definitely avoid it in formal or polite situations.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder haben den ganzen Nachmittag nur geglotzt.
The children just watched TV all afternoon.
Word family
The verb 'glotzen' (to stare) is related to the noun 'die Glotzaugen' (bulging/staring eyes), which refers to large, staring eyes. This reinforces the meaning of looking intensely and expressionlessly.
EXAMPLE
Er stand nur da und glotzte mich mit seinen großen Augen an.
He just stood there and stared at me with his big eyes.
Use with 'an'
If you want to express that a specific person is being stared at, you can use the separable verb 'anglotzen' (to stare at). The person is then in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Mann in der U-Bahn hat mich die ganze Zeit angeglotzt.
The man on the subway stared at me the whole time.
Fixed expression
In the meaning 'fernsehen' (to watch TV), 'glotzen' is often used in the fixed expression 'in die Glotze glotzen' (to watch the tube). 'Die Glotze' is a colloquial expression for the television.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe keine Lust auszugehen, ich will nur zu Hause in die Glotze glotzen.
I don't feel like going out; I just want to stay home and watch the tube.
Compare with
glotzen vs TV
TV
Here, TV refers only to the television set and does not characterize how someone watches television. Glotzen, on the other hand, is very colloquial and refers to watching TV passively for a long time, often with a critical tone. TV is suitable for a neutral description of the device, while glotzen is used for a disparaging description of the activity.
glotzen
Jonas glotzt am Abend wieder stundenlang.
Jonas is vegging out in front of the TV for hours again this evening.
TV
Jonas sitzt am Abend lange vor dem TV.
Jonas sits in front of the TV for a long time in the evening.
In real life
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