idiot box

noun
UK: /ˈɪdɪət bɒks/
US: /ˈɪdiət bɑːks/

  1. A television set, especially when regarded as a source of mindless entertainment.

    1. Let's turn off the idiot box and go for a walk.
    2. He spends hours glued to the idiot box, wasting his time on silly shows.

Synonyms

television tv telly boob tube
idiot box verb

  1. To spend excessive time watching television, often passively and without critical thought.

    1. I hate to idiot box, but there's nothing else to do today.
    2. She prefers to read rather than idiot box, finding it a more engaging pastime.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "idiot box" is /ˈɪdɪət bɒks/ in British English and /ˈɪdiət bɑːks/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "idiot box": television, tv, telly, boob tube.

Example usage of "idiot box": "Let's turn off the idiot box and go for a walk.". More examples on the page.