lowest common denominator

The difficulties grow even more pronounced when discussing those highly visible sculptures that are usually committee-approved, intentionally uncontroversial and frequently appeal to the lowest common denominator: art in public.

A land-use reform that works both here and in San Francisco has got to be good—but also a kind of lowest common denominator in the complex politics of the city.

And adults assume that’s what kids want, so we lean into the lowest common denominator — which actually harms them, because those are the most important years for development.

If we regard Matt’s promise to Mill to play to the lowest common denominator as a Faustian bargain, it’s not one that seems to have any long-term consequences, only scrambling in the moment to keep his job and a modicum of self-respect.

“Elderly female action star” is a cute premise, but Margolin makes the most of it without infantilizing his heroine or otherwise resorting to lowest common denominator humor.