Poor reception
Meaning
A weak or unclear signal for electronic communication, leading to difficulty in hearing or seeing.
Origin
The phrase 'poor reception' truly came into its own with the dawn of the wireless age in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As Marconi's telegraphy evolved into widespread radio broadcasting, listeners eagerly tuned in, only to find their enjoyment frequently marred by crackling static, fading signals, and unpredictable interference. Their radios were 'receiving' the broadcast, but doing so poorly. This frustrating experience—the struggle to pick up a clear signal through the ether—coined the term, quickly becoming a universal lament for anyone trying to connect to the invisible airwaves, a problem that persists today with our mobile phones and Wi-Fi networks.
Examples
- We couldn't watch the game clearly because of the poor reception in the basement.
- I kept losing the call due to poor reception as I drove through the mountains.