Christmas box
1
2.4
- noun
- /ˈkrɪs·məs bɑks/
- Archaic
:
caja de Navidad
- She received a lovely Christmas box from her mail carrier as a thank you for his service.
Examples
-
Lazy, idle, slovenly, and then they have the cheek to come round for a Christmas box.
-
Every year, the children look forward to opening a Christmas box filled with small toys and candies.
-
He prepared a Christmas box for the delivery personnel who helped him throughout the year.
Synonyms
80
1.0
A gift given to someone at Christmas
39
1.0
Something you give someone on or near Christmas to show you care
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a gift given at Christmas' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'Christmas' (the holiday) with 'box' (a container), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a box or gift associated with Christmas. The specific cultural nuance (e.g. traditionally given to service providers) may require exposure, but the basic compositional meaning is clear.
Etymology
Christmas box comes from an old custom of giving a small box at Christmas to servants and local workers. People put money or little gifts inside the box 'to thank' them for their work during the year, so today it means a gift given at Christmas as a sign of thanks.