What Do You Call Your Remote Control?

June 17, 2008

I've been giggling all morning over this story from The Guardian that rounds up several slang terms (both British and more universal) for the remote control. Personally, I go with good ol' "remote," but I always found it endearing when my grandma called it "the clicker" — and downright hilarious when I heard someone call it "the wand." Of all the options in the story, my favorite is the adorable term "the buttons," which I'd probably start using if my boyfriend wouldn't find it so weird. What do you call your remote?

Source

TV Buzz Poll Remote Control

69 Comments

3 years 6 weeks

My mom and I and my dad are all from New York but my brothers aren't...and all my other relatives from New York....we all call it "the box" I know it must sound soooo weird to you guys but it's super normal to us. I think it's a new york kinda thing...either that or my wacko grandpa's lol. But whenever I say to my friends..."hey can u please hand me the box?" they turn to me and say.."the WHAT???" and I have to say..."ohhh sorry I mean the remote lol"

3 years 48 weeks

ITS THE CHANGER, although if its urgent as in, when i'm looking for it in my pants ITS THE HOOFER DOOFER!!!

3 years 48 weeks

'Buttons' of course, only lame Colombian's can't realise this.

ShePirate2010 4 years 45 weeks

i call it 'that frickin little tv thing on the couch there'

ElleJay 4 years 48 weeks

We always used to call it the "Controler" when i was little

SapphireSky 4 years 48 weeks

We use "remote" however, my dad calls this and the garage opener "the box." As in, "give me the box." We've tried many ways to deprogram this but to no avail :)

radarkitty 4 years 48 weeks

For me, remote. For the husband, not a nice word.

Jinx 4 years 48 weeks

Usually, The remote, but I have used clicker.

hoolywood 4 years 48 weeks

zapper. hmn.

elizabelle 4 years 48 weeks

when I was little I called it a "dit dot" and it stuck with my family. w/ others I try to call it the remote.

otaku 4 years 48 weeks

...the button.

Renees3 4 years 48 weeks

Clicker! But my old roomates daughter used to call it the "Kamoke" so I call it that sometimes too. I remember her searching in the couch for it singing Kamoke Kamoke Kamoke. She's a cool kid

supertramp 4 years 48 weeks

A dial, just kidding.

thelorax 4 years 48 weeks

r85 you're my hero!!!!! You are the only person I've ever encountered who, like me, calls it "the zapper". I never realized it was at all unusual until I left for college.

ur_momm 4 years 48 weeks

controller.... my sister heard me and thought i was weird but i think its due to my bf and his ps3... (PS3 controller)

K is For Kait 4 years 48 weeks

The control! No remote involved! :)

Frank y Ava 4 years 48 weeks

the remote always has been always will be!!

californiagirlx7 4 years 48 weeks

the remote, or the remote control. haha the wand?

Mädchen 4 years 48 weeks

@tyffi: *lol* I'm thinking it might have been a He-Man reference ("Ich habe die Macht von Greyskull!"), but I'm really not sure. :)

r85 4 years 48 weeks

I've always called it "the zapper", everyone in my house says it, so i don't think it's odd at all!

tyffi 4 years 48 weeks

I'm with Mädchen - I'm German, too - and when my brother and I have been kids and where allowed to watch TV we were always fighting about "die Macht" because the remote gives you the power. *g*

arianell 4 years 48 weeks

I've always called it "the controls", which my boyfriend finds a bit odd.

Mädchen 4 years 48 weeks

Me and my brother used to call it "die Macht" (I'm German), which means "the power" or "the force". :) Can't remember whether it was actually meant as a Star Wars reference... ;) Actually, we still call it that whenever we happen to watch TV together, it just doesn't happen that often nowadays.