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It's time Ireland settled on a word for the remote control

Zapper, flicker, clicker, remote — WHAT’S IT CALLED?

Jun 9th 2016, 11:24 AM 11,840 Views 25 Comments

piece Source: Flickr

THE REMOTE CONTROL has a sacred place in the Irish family home.

It causes rows, it acts the maggot and it somehow gets lodged down the side of couches.

Despite the crucial role it plays in our lives, however, we still don’t have *one definitive name* for it.

YtUIVU1465464649 Source: Flickr

Depending what house you’re in, you could be calling it a…

Remote

Not the most imaginative choice, we’ll admit, but at least there’s no room for ambiguity.

GRMQs31465466731 Source: Flickr

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Zapper

A favourite for Irish families. Makes it sound like it’s used to defeat aliens and makes a ‘pew-pew’ sound.

dhpzvf1465466831 Source: Flickr

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Flicker

Definitely coined by a Dad who couldn’t remember the correct word for ‘remote’ and just called it the “flicky thing”.

locsQL1465466928 Source: Flickr

A:"Where's the flicker?"
Me:"the what?"
A:"The flicker"
Me:"Omg u actually call it a flicker"
A:"Ya u don't?"
Alia.Talking about a remote
— lessia ⚓️ (@alessiaf08) February 24, 2016

Source: lessia/Twitter

We’ve also heard…

Controller
Channel changer
Clicker

In a bid to settle this once and for all, we’re asking you, reader…

What do you call the remote control?

Poll Results:

Remote (3597)

Something else entirely! (551)

Zapper (343)

Flicker/clicker (175)

Controller (85)

Channel changer (25)

Remote
Zapper
Flicker/clicker
Controller
Channel changer
Something else entirely!

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About the author

Amy O'Connor

@amyohconnor

amy@dailyedge.ie

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It's time Ireland settled on a word for the remote control