idiot box

From idiot +‎ box, an allusion to the supposed mind-reducing nature of television programming or its lack of educational value.

• Audio (General Australian):

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idiot box (plural idiot boxes)

1. (idiomatic, chiefly US and Canada) Television.
   • 2003 March 31, Bill Litchfield, “Basketball Fans”, in rec.gardens‎^[1] (Usenet):

     During the long, dreary, wet winter I amused myself by watching college and Pro basketball on the idiot box.

• (television): boob tube (boob = idiot)