lowbrow
being uncultivated (arts and entertainment)
TRANSLATION
lowbrow = unkultiviert, anspruchslos (geistig) --- GOOGLE INDEX lowbrow: approximately 750,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Among the more curious is Robert Downey Jr.'s supporting actor nomination for his performance as an overly intense method actor in the LOWBROW action comedy "Tropic Thunder."
(The Associated Press)
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While wrestling shows have been rightly criticized as being LOWBROW and appealing to the lowest common denominator of humanity, the wrestlers themselves have nothing to do with this.
(SLAM! Sports, Canada)
(The Associated Press)
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While wrestling shows have been rightly criticized as being LOWBROW and appealing to the lowest common denominator of humanity, the wrestlers themselves have nothing to do with this.
(SLAM! Sports, Canada)
Did you
know?
lowbrow
adjective
- not complicated or demanding much intelligence to be understood
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Cambridge University Press 2009)
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WORD ORIGIN
Franz Gall, an 18th century German anatomist and physiologist, is credited with the development of phrenology. This field is the study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the belief that they reveal character and mental capacity.
Gall suggested that the brain was divided into 27 separate "organs." Each organ supposedly corresponded to a discrete human faculty, such as musical ability, or strength of character, or emotionality.
One of his theories was the controversial and now discredited belief that a high forehead corresponds to a bigger brain and thus more intelligence. This eventually led to the expression "highbrow" for an intellectual person. The term "lowbrow" then followed to describe people with low foreheads, implying lesser intelligence.
Today, lowbrow is used primarily in the world of arts and culture to describe works that are not intellectually-demanding and which appeal to the masses. For instance, many of the popular reality-based television shows are considered lowbrow, at least by the critics. But as the "highbrowed" Einstein reminded us, everything is relative. What is lowbrow to some might be entertaining to others. And what is highbrow to some might be unintelligible to others.
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SYNONYMS
dull, unrefined, uncouth, low-class, second-rate, cheap, boorish, crass, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, philistine
ANTONYMS
bookish, brainy, cerebral, cultivated, cultured, erudite, intellective, intelligent, learned, scholarly, studious, wise
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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"Some lowbrow TV shows can be still be entertaining in low doses."
adjective
- not complicated or demanding much intelligence to be understood
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Cambridge University Press 2009)
---
WORD ORIGIN
Franz Gall, an 18th century German anatomist and physiologist, is credited with the development of phrenology. This field is the study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the belief that they reveal character and mental capacity.
Gall suggested that the brain was divided into 27 separate "organs." Each organ supposedly corresponded to a discrete human faculty, such as musical ability, or strength of character, or emotionality.
One of his theories was the controversial and now discredited belief that a high forehead corresponds to a bigger brain and thus more intelligence. This eventually led to the expression "highbrow" for an intellectual person. The term "lowbrow" then followed to describe people with low foreheads, implying lesser intelligence.
Today, lowbrow is used primarily in the world of arts and culture to describe works that are not intellectually-demanding and which appeal to the masses. For instance, many of the popular reality-based television shows are considered lowbrow, at least by the critics. But as the "highbrowed" Einstein reminded us, everything is relative. What is lowbrow to some might be entertaining to others. And what is highbrow to some might be unintelligible to others.
---
SYNONYMS
dull, unrefined, uncouth, low-class, second-rate, cheap, boorish, crass, uncultivated, uncultured, unpolished, philistine
ANTONYMS
bookish, brainy, cerebral, cultivated, cultured, erudite, intellective, intelligent, learned, scholarly, studious, wise
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"Some lowbrow TV shows can be still be entertaining in low doses."
