idiot box en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From idiot + box, an allusion to the supposed mind-reducing nature of television programming or its lack of educational value.
Meanings
-
(Canada, US, idiomatic) Television.
During the long, dreary, wet winter I amused myself by watching college and Pro basketball on the idiot box.
2003 March 31, Bill Litchfield, “Basketball Fans”, in rec.gardens (Usenet):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| idiot boxes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (15)
ru дебили́зор (television (pejorative)) · ru зомбови́зор (television (pejorative)) · de Idiotenlaterne (television (pejorative)) · ru зомбоя́щик (television (pejorative)) · es caja idiota (television (pejorative)) · fi telkkari (television (pejorative)) · fi töllö (television (pejorative)) · es caja boba (television (pejorative)) · nl treurbuis (television (pejorative)) · es caja tonta (television (pejorative)) · ru дуроско́п (television (pejorative)) · el χαζοκούτι (television (pejorative)) · de Glotze (television (pejorative)) · is imbakassi (television (pejorative)) · sv dumburk (television (pejorative))