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dumb |
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deaf and dumb unable to hear or speak. (Used without any intended malice, but no longer considered polite. Sometimes euphemized as "hearing and speech impaired.") Fred objected to being called deaf and dumb. Aunt Clara—she was deaf and dumb, you know—lived to be over 100. How dumb do you think I am? Inf. Your question is insulting. I am not stupid. (Shows agitation. An answer is not expected or desired.) Mary: Are you really going to sell your new car? Sally: Come on! How dumb do you think I am? Tom: Do you think you could sneak into that theater without paying? Bob: Good grief! How dumb do you think I am? play ignorant and play dumb to pretend to be ignorant [of something]. I played ignorant even though I knew about the surprise party. John played dumb when I asked him if he knew who had been on the telephone. See also: play How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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In his book Dumbing Us Down, John Taylor Gatto discusses the seven lessons of school, one of which is surveillance: You are always attached to the system, and the school monitors your behavior 24/7. The hint that dumbing down the curriculum was the way to go can be found in the remarks made by junior high school Principal A. In fact, the book is a veritable ode to the short attention spans, dumbing down of complex issues into sound bites, and general lack of depth that modern American readers have been wired into with the cyber-revolution. |
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