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Glite Dictionary
to shadowbox

to shadowbox

1 7.1
Punch and move in the air as a boxing training exercise
  • verb
  • /ˈʃædoʊˌbɑks/
translation icon : hacer sombra
  • Charlie Kenton is shadowboxing just outside the ring!

Examples

  • Before the match, he decided to shadowbox to warm up his muscles and improve his movements.

  • I seen guys get more action just shadowboxing.

    Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)

  • But he knew, like all the other firms, they had to shadowbox around the issue until things got awkward and it was apparent they had discussed everything in the world but money.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Got to keep that guard up, right?" she said, shadowboxing in place and jabbing me softly in the ribs.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Then he started shadowboxing and doing warm-ups like he'd seen Toney do, though I don't know if it helped him.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • She likes to shadowbox in front of the mirror to perfect her technique before training.

  • As part of her exercise routine, she often shadowboxes to stay fit and practice her punches.

How Vigorous

to fight
∞ 1.0
spar
1 7.2
to shadowbox
1 7.1
to punch
455 1.4

Surface Forms

shadowbox infinitive
shadowboxed past
shadowboxed past participle
shadowboxing present participle
shadowboxes third person singular

Morphology

shadowbox = shadow + box (transparent) = shadow + box

The verb is a clear compound of 'shadow' + 'box' meaning to box alone or against one's shadow, which is directly inferable from the components.

Etymology

Shadowbox comes from the simple parts shadow ('a dark shape') and box ('to punch'). It means doing boxing moves against your own shadow or an imaginary opponent to practice, which is why shadowboxing is a common warm-up when there is no partner.