idiot light

English

Etymology

From idiot +‎ light, suggesting that even a stupid person with no mechanical knowledge can recognize a problem when thus indicated.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

idiot light (plural idiot lights)

1. (automotive, slang) Any warning light or indicator on the dashboard of a car, designed to alert the driver to problems, such as the parking brake being on or the oil being low.

Synonyms

• dummy light

Hypernyms

• warning light

Translations

warning light

• Finnish: varoitusvalo
• French: voyant (fr) m
• German: Warnlämpchen n, Signallämpchen n
• Italian: please add this translation if you can
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: chivato (es) m