boob tube

[entrapta]

I know it's television, but what does boob stand for here? It's a title and I would like to know if there's any chance I could render the joke in Italian.

 

[beccamutt]

"Boob" is an old-fashioned slang term for a foolish person (these days it's usually slang for "breast", though, so be careful ).

"boob tube" from dictionary.com:
Origin:
1965–70; rhyming coinage, from the notion that television programming is foolish, induces foolishness, or is watched by foolish people

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boob+tube

 

[entrapta]

Thank you.

 

[You little ripper!]

This is a boob tube in Australia and the UK.

 

[entrapta]

ah ah......

 

[tedgale]

Boob tube is colloquial English of the 1950s or 60s. It is surely not current usage.

For one thing, TVs don't still contain picture tubes -- do they?

 

[rrose17]

I agree that boob tube to refer to TV is out of date slang and I also thought of the same type of tube top that Charles found for us.

 

[You little ripper!]

I agree that boob tube to refer to TV is out of date slang and I also thought of the same type of tube top that Charles found for us.

I spoke to a female friend of mine (yes, I do have a couple ) in Sydney today who informed me that 'boob tube' is still used there, as far as she knew (she gave up wearing them years ago ).