babysitter test

Definitions

1. 1

   An informal method for assessing the maturity, reliability, or probity of a person,…

   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.

   • The babysitter, presumably between the ages of ten and 15, is quite explicitly expected to function in a way usually expected of mature individuals.
   • 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.
2. 2

   A test for the ease of use of household appliances.

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

The neighborhood