rubber room

American  

noun

1. Informal. a room padded with foam rubber for the confinement of a violent mentally ill person.

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Etymology

Origin of rubber room

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

And while I knew many strange, different, obscure and absurd stories were out there in the burgeoning canon of Asian American indie film, they’ve traditionally been treated to festival showcases and critical golf-claps, then ushered out into the rubber room of history.

From Washington Post

“That’s rubber room stuff,” Mr. Pence told him, as Mr. Jacob recalled.

From New York Times

Jacob said Pence described Eastman’s response as “rubber room stuff.”

From Washington Post

When Pence was told of this days later, he told Jacob, “that’s rubber room stuff,” according to Jacob’s testimony.

From Slate

This second season explores the consequences of the Season 1 finale, which saw Kevin flee and Dan sent to the rubber room, their friendship frayed.

From New York Times

Related Words

• mental health institution
• psychiatric hospital
• psychiatric ward