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Phrasal Verbs

dumb down

This page is about the phrasal verb dumb down

INFORMAL

Meaning

to make something like a movie or a novel easier to understand so more money can be made from it

For example

  • dumb down sth Ross used to work in television, but he quit when he was told he had to dumb down the programs he was working on.

  • dumb sth down Movie directors often say big studios dumb their movies down to sell more tickets.

Quick Quiz

If a movie has been dumbed down, it means it has been changed to make it

a. easier to act in

b. easier to direct

c. easier to understand
a) easier to act in b) easier to direct c) easier to understand

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1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context

Contributor: Matt Errey