Definition

Noun: 1. A television set: An informal, often humorous or mildly disparaging term for a television receiver, the physical device that displays broadcast programs. The term emphasizes the passive, potentially mind-numbing nature of watching television.

Usage and Examples

• As a direct object: Refers to the physical television set.
  • After dinner, he just sits in front of the boob tube all night.
  • We finally replaced our old boob tube with a new flat-screen.
• In prepositional phrases: Used to describe the activity of watching TV.
  • There's nothing good on the boob tube tonight.
  • He gets all his news from the boob tube.

Advanced Usage and Nuance

• Connotation: The term "boob tube" carries a critical or dismissive connotation. It implies that watching television is an activity for "boobs" (a slang term for foolish people) and that it dulls the mind. It is informal and not used in formal or technical contexts.
• Context: It is typically used by someone criticizing the amount or quality of television someone watches, or used self-deprecatingly.

Variants and Related Words

• TV / Television (noun): The standard, neutral terms for the device or medium.
• Telly (noun, chiefly British): A common, informal British shortening of "television," similar in register to "boob tube" but without the negative connotation.
• Idiot box (noun): A synonym for "boob tube" with an even stronger negative connotation, suggesting television is for idiots.
• The tube (noun, informal): A general, informal slang term for television, primarily American. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Television set
• TV
• Idiot box (more pejorative)
• Gogglebox (British slang)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be glued to the tube/boob tube: To watch television with intense, unwavering attention.
  • The kids were glued to the boob tube all Saturday morning.
• Couch potato: A person who spends a great deal of time sitting and watching television. This idiom describes the viewer, while "boob tube" describes the device.
  • He turned into a real couch potato after he got that new boob tube.

Noun

1. an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
   • the British call a tv set a telly