rot one's brain

Meaning: To dull one's mind through mindless activity.

Example: “Put the phone down before those videos rot your brain.”

Origin: Thoreau wrote of "brain-rot" in Walden (1854). The warning that television, and later screens, would rot children's brains became common in the second half of the 20th century.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Griller les neurones Literally: To burn out the neurons

More English idioms

go down fighting To keep struggling until the very end, even when defeat is certain.
none of your beeswax A playful way of saying "none of your business."
that's all she wrote That is the end of it; there is nothing more.
the butt of the joke The person everyone laughs at or makes fun of.
roll in the hay To have casual sex.
thick as a brick Very stupid.

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