DUMB DOWN
THIS MONTH WE’RE LOOKING AT THE PHRASAL VERB “TO DUMB DOWN”. BASICALLY, IF YOU “DUMB SOMETHING DOWN” YOU DELIBERATELY SIMPLIFY IT SO THAT OTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND IT MORE EASILY.
The main problem with this expression is that it has some very negative connotations. The word “dumb” can be used to mean “stupid”. For example:
a) Sometimes he can be so dumb.
b) I’m not dumb, you know!
The word is also used in the insulting term “a dumb blonde”. This is used to refer to an attractive but supposedly “stupid” blonde woman, with all the resulting sexist jokes known as “dumb blonde jokes”. “Dumb” is also an old-fashioned and very non-pc way of referring to someone who is not able to talk. These days, people with an inability to speak are now known as “speech-impaired”; and the person is known as a “speech-impaired person” or “person suffering from speech-impairment”.