Meaning of babysitter test | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An informal method for assessing the maturity, reliability, or probity of a person, inviting one to judge whether one would entrust this person with the care of one's own children.
   idiomatic
2. A test for the ease of use of household appliances.
   idiomatic

Examples

“The babysitter, presumably between the ages of ten and 15, is quite explicitly expected to function in a way usually expected of mature individuals.”

“To highlight the inadequacy of such evidence, we propose⟳ what we call⟳ “the babysitter test⟳” for future prosecution witnesses in death penalty cases. We suggest⟳ that, to send⟳ someone to the gurney or the electric chair on the word of one witness, the prosecutor must agree⟳ to hire⟳ that witness as a babysitter for her or his kids for one evening.”

“I use⟳ a babysitter test⟳ when it comes to Israel, Indyk said. Do I trust⟳ this man or woman with my child? Will he or she be in the trenches when it really counts? Obama would.”

“"We set⟳ out to create⟳ a remote that passes the babysitter test⟳," says Klarke, director of marketing and development for Harmony remotes.”

“I call⟳ it the babysitter test⟳. Can I give⟳ a remote control⟳ to a 15-year-old, gum-snapping Valley Girl and explain⟳, clearly and succinctly in less than 3 minutes, how she can watch⟳ TV? Without getting a panicked call⟳ when American Idol begins? TiVo passes the test⟳.”

“At the devices’ launch⟳, the company claimed this ease of use⟳ would pass⟳ “the babysitter test⟳” of making TVs and DVD players intuitive to use⟳.”

CEFR level