idiot box

the idiot box

slang A television set, or television in general. We need to start encouraging our children to play outside, instead of just spending hours in front of the idiot box. It saddens me that people would rather watch the idiot box than explore the world around them.
See also: box, idiot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

idiot box

A television set, as in There they sit in front of the idiot box, hour after hour. This slangy and pejorative expression dates from about 1960.
See also: box, idiot
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

idiot box

n. a television set. You spend too much time watching the idiot box.
See also: box, idiot
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

idiot box

A television set. The term dates from about 1950 and obviously is a derogatory take on the medium of television. For example, “It’s a shame her kids have no supervision and just sit, hour after hour, in front of the idiot box.”
See also: box, idiot
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • the idiot box
  • telly
  • have square eyes
  • homework
  • do (one's) homework
  • do your homework
  • jan
  • not happy, Jan
  • streaming service
  • be on (the) air
References in periodicals archive
Many other murderers appear: Alexander Pearce, a recent television subject, Peter Dupas, Martin Bryant, Ivan Milat, and some of the men featured more recently on the idiot box - such as Mario Condello and Carl Williams.
Bursztynski, Sue (text) Kerry Greenwood (intro) Louise Prout (illus.): Crime Time: Australians Behaving Badly
So in 2003, during the run-up to the Iraq War, Bors began a weekly cartoon called "Idiot Box" for the school newspaper.
United to Distribute Matt Bors' Cartoons Starting Monday
Turn off that idiot box and take a look around you.
The stimga of "dollar stores"
And with prices falling rapidly on such devices, it's easy to overlook the negatives of putting an idiot box in the car.
BACK SEAT THEATER
Antichrist Television Blues is tormented modern country crying as it kicks against force-feeding from the idiot box.
MUSIC: IN THE LINE OF FIRE; CD OF THE WEEK Neon Bible is a huge, thrilling ride, confirming Arcade Fire are built to last ARCADE FIRE Neon Bible ****
If this is really true, it may have something to do with how much time the parents in question have spent with their children - how much they rely on the idiot box as a surrogate babysitter.
Set-sitters
The television, once referred to as the "idiot box, now provides smart options to enhance the overall viewing experience.
Coming to a TV near you: changes in technology give viewers more options than ever
'Wising Up the Idiot Box', Fast Company, November 2005, p.
Who cares?
Seems to me like people stopped becoming involved once the idiot box showed up and started telling them how to think rather than forming opinions from experience and acting on them.
Zinn speaks the truth
I HAD the good sense to take `Mental Moira' out for a Valentine's dinner last night, so should not have too much trouble hogging the idiot box tonight.
Greyhounds: Pricewise: Pennys worth a punt at 5-2 against mighty Dan
He has designed award-winning titles for Idiot Box (David Caesar, 1996), Dirty Deeds (David Caesar, 2002) and The Well (Samantha Lang, 1997).
First frames: titles in the digital realm
Most of the people, however, were content with staring at the idiot box: more than two out of five said they watch television.
BEDROOM
Watching the idiot box, goes the argument, turns viewers into idiots.
View masters
It is too hot to go outside and play in the park and there is nothing to watch on the idiot box either.
Summer break
If you grew up in the '80s/'90s like us, a time when the internet didn't consume our daily lives in the way it does now, you were probably sat in front of the idiot box a lot as well.
Podcast Post: When Gwyneth met Oprah