She 'played/acted dumb' [=pretended to know or understand less than she really did] so we would assign her the easier tasks.
She thinks television is contributing to the 'dumbing down' of America.
Cutting training programs will 'dumb down' the American workforce.
(..) Well, somebody once told me that the great kings of the past are up there watching over us. Really? You mean a bunch of royal dead guys are watching us? Pbbb. Who told you something like that? What mook made that up? Yeah. Pretty dumb, huh? Ah, you're killing me, Simba. Was it something I said? (..)1994 The Lion King
(..) Simba! I'm kind of in the middle of a bath. And it's time for yours. Mom!... Mom. You're messing up my mane. Okay, okay; I'm clean. Can we go now? So where are we going? It better not be anyplace dumb. No. It's really cool. So where is this "really cool" place? Oh... uh... around the water hole. (..)1994 The Lion King