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box

box

24 8.2
A sharp blow to the ear with the hand
  • noun
  • /bɑks/
  • Informal
translation icon : bofetada
  • Mary gave him a box on the ear for being rude.

Examples

  • After losing the argument, he received a swift box from his brother.

  • In the playful sparring match, she delivered a light box on his cheek.

  • Face creased with anger, he hurls the box at Lemarchand's face.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The fighters wear protective head and groin gear and box with 16-ounce gloves, and each bout consists of three one-minute rounds.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

blow
vsbox
271 2.0

A strong hit from a fist or weapon

is delivered with the hand and often aimed at the ear
smacker
vsbox
  • Slang
3 8.8

A very hard hit with the fist

is delivered with the hand rather than with the fist and often to the ear
clip
vsbox
2 5.6

A quick sharp hit, often with the hand

is aimed specifically at the ear with the hand

Idioms

outside the box
  • Informal
37 4.5

In a creative way that does not follow normal rules

Ready to use without extra setup after you buy it

7 5.3

Thinking in a new, creative way not limited by usual methods

4 7.7

To create many unexpected problems that are hard to control

In a usual, not creative way that avoids new ideas

A person who is not very quick to understand things

to box one's ears
  • Offensive
9.9

To hit someone on the side of the head to punish or scold them

9.9

To say all the compass points in order and name every direction

To sell a lot of movie tickets

Spending a long time watching television and not doing much else

off one's box
  • Archaic
9.9

Feeling confused and out of control after drinking or when very upset

8.8

A person who is not very quick to understand

Think in a new way instead of your usual way

Compounds

70 2.8

A secure metal box in a bank where people keep valuables

60 2.5

Money that comes from selling tickets for a film or show

37 1.0

A box made of cardboard used for packing or storing things

31 2.5

A sealed container where voters put their voting papers during an election

A strong metal box in a bank that holds valuable things

black box
  • Specialized
26 4.9

A device on an airplane that records flight information and pilot voices

24 3.4

A secure metal box in a bank for keeping valuable things

23 3.1

A small box that plays a tune when you wind it

22 1.8

A place at a theatre or cinema where people buy tickets

Pandora's box
  • Literature
21 8.2

A situation that causes many unexpected and serious problems

boom box
  • Archaic
19 3.1

A portable music system with speakers that plays music loudly

18 1.8

A box with soft material that cats use to pee and poo indoors

11 1.0

A cardboard box that holds breakfast cereal

9 3.7

A part in the throat that makes sounds when you speak

press box
  • Literature
9 3.1

An area in a stadium or arena where reporters and broadcasters sit to report the game

8 3.2

A raised area in a courtroom where the people who decide the case sit during a trial

8 2.1

A small box for keeping cigars or other small items

7 5.8

A simple coffin made from pine wood

black box
  • Specialized
7 3.9

A system whose inner parts are hidden so you only see what goes in and what comes out

7 3.4

A numbered box at a post office where you receive and collect your mail

7 4.4

Private place in a raised box with a good view of the stage or field

A numbered box at a post office where you collect your mail

6 3.3

A small area in ice hockey where a player sits to serve time after a penalty

dialog box
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A small window that asks you to confirm or cancel an action

5 3.2

A strong cloth frame with springs that supports a mattress

4 4.3

A marked area beside home plate where the player stands to hit

idiot box
  • Informal
4 7.2

A television people jokingly call a waste of time

4 4.2

An enclosed area in a courtroom where a person sits to tell the judge or jury what they saw

4 1.0

A box for keeping children's toys

4 2.9

A long narrow container for growing plants on a windowsill

text box
  • Specialized
3 3.2

An area on a screen or in a document where you can type and show words

2 5.5

A place in a church where people put money to help needy people

2 5.2

A North American land turtle with a high shell that can close tightly to protect itself

cat box
  • US
2 1.0

A box filled with litter that a cat uses as a toilet indoors

shit box
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A very old, broken car or run-down place

1 2.0

A small container with a slot on top for keeping coins or paper money

telephone box
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A small box on a street that holds a public phone

1 4.6

A kite with a box shape open at both ends

1 3.0

A number for a mailbox at a post office where someone receives mail

A toy box with a clown or figure that pops out when opened

A way to find new, creative ideas to solve problems

To solve problems using new creative ideas

1 1.0

A small box for holding pencils, erasers, and a ruler

1 6.4

The front part of a shoe that covers and protects the toes

1 5.9

A shallow box with a clear front that shows and protects small items like jewelry

shine box
  • Archaic
1 7.1

A box that holds brushes, cloths, and polish for shoes

1 3.5

A tool with a closed circular end that fits over a nut or bolt to turn it

box camera
  • Archaic
1 4.2

A simple camera in the shape of a box with a fixed focus lens and few controls

box seat
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Place where a driver sits on a horse-drawn carriage

Christmas box
  • Archaic
1 2.4

A gift you give at Christmas to people who do a job for you, like a milkman or postman

1 3.0

A box that holds coins collected from a machine like a slot machine

dispatch box
  • Formal
1 8.8

A locked box used to carry and keep important government papers like speeches

1 1.0

A box or slot at a house where mail is delivered

miter box
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A tool that guides a saw to make cuts at exact angles in wood for picture frames

1 1.0

A large strong container used to hold things for moving or storage

1 2.3

A small container with holes in the top for sprinkling ground pepper on food

A number used to receive mail at a post office box

1 5.0

A small shelter with an open front where a guard stands

1 6.7

A small building where people control railway signals and switches to direct trains

1 6.3

A loudspeaker used to talk to people in a building

1 6.3

A box-shaped instrument with bellows that you press to make music, like an accordion

9.3

A small tree with dark green lobed leaves and wood that resists rot, often used for fence posts

box beam
  • Specialized
6.7

A long hollow structure made from boards with a rectangular shape that supports parts of a building

box calf
  • Specialized
8.7

Smooth shiny leather made from the skin of a young cow and used for high quality shoes and bags

4.6

A short loose-fitting coat that hangs straight from the shoulders

6.1

A North American fast-growing maple tree with leaves made of several parts, often used for shade

box end wrench
  • Specialized
5.9

A wrench with a closed ring end that fits over a nut or bolt

box family
  • Specialized
9.3

A group of evergreen shrubs and small trees with glossy leaves, including boxwood, found worldwide

box girder
  • Specialized
7.0

A beam with a hollow box shape used in bridges and large structures

A low spreading evergreen shrub with small shiny leaves and nearly tasteless berries

box Kodak
  • Archaic
9.1

A simple box-shaped camera made by Kodak around 1900

box of tricks
  • Informal
5.5

A set of clever methods a person uses to solve problems

box pleat
  • Specialized
6.4

Two folds in cloth turned under to form a flat box shape

How Hard

to punch
455 1.4
box
  • Informal
24 8.2
slap
110 1.0
tap
66 1.0

Surface Forms

box singular
boxes plural

Etymology

Box meaning a blow, especially on the ear, is an older sense of the word and likely comes from a short, sharp 'blow' once called a 'box', so a 'box' on the ear is simply a quick slap.