🧠 Dumb Down, To
Dumb down, to - To simplify or otherwise revise in order to appeal to someone of less education, taste, or intelligence.
Did You Know?
This slangy expression dates from the first half of the 1900s. Publishers Weekly used it in a review of The Business of Books by André Schiffrin: “…the attempt to appeal to the lowest common denominator of taste, which has, he says, led network television and movies in such depressing directions, has dumbed down publishing to an alarming degree" (Aug. 21, 2000).
Related and Similar Terms:
- Water down - To make something weaker or less effective.
- Simplify - To make (something) easier to do or understand.
- Dilute - To lessen the strength or flavor of.
- Cut corners - To do something the easiest or quickest way without regard to quality.
Synonyms:
- Simplify, reduce, lower the standard, trivialize
Antonyms:
- Complicate, sophisticate, embellish, intensify
Humor-filled Quotes and Proverbs:
- “A measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” — Albert Einstein ☁️
- “In a society where nearly all things are dumbed down, Excel is an exception of delight.” — Unknown 💡
References:
- Books: Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
- Songs: Too Much by Elvis Presley
- Movies: Idiocracy (2006)
Inspirational and Thought-provoking Farewell 🌟:
May we cherish our intellectual curiosity, and never allow the ebbs and flows of societal trends strip away our hunger for knowledge and meaning.
Until next time, keep your wits sharp and your mind hungry!
### Which term means "to make something easier to do or understand"?
- [ ] Embellish
- [ ] Intensify
- [x] Simplify
- [ ] Complicate
> **Explanation:** Simplify means to make something easier to do or understand, whereas the other terms either complicate or add to the original task.
### Which of these could be an example of 'dumbing down'?
- [x] Using cartoons to explain advanced chemistry
- [ ] Writing a comprehensive thesis on Quantum Mechanics
- [ ] Composing a deep, emotional sonnet
- [ ] Creating a detailed architectural blueprint
> **Explanation:** Using cartoons to explain advanced chemistry is a form of 'dumbing down', meant to make complex subjects more understandable at a basic level.
### True or False: 'Dumbing down' means to make something more complicated.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False! 'Dumbing down' means to make something simpler and more accessible, often at the expense of depth or subtlety.
