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pencil case

pencil case

2 1.0
A small box or bag for keeping pencils, pens, and erasers
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛnsl keɪs/
translation icon : estuche de lápices
  • The teacher asked everyone to bring a pencil case filled with their writing tools for the art class.
  • get your pencil case

If I had a generic see through pencil case to take into an exam, would it fit in?

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Examples

  • She unzipped her pencil case and took out a freshly sharpened pencil.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • If you were lucky, you would have a pencil case to carry all your needed supplies: pencils, rulers, erasers, and such.

    Blog text (6)
  • Got some books, got my pencil case, can sit here with my cat.

  • Hey, it's a great idea! I used an old pencil case as a fun alternative!

    Blog text (18)
  • I'll buy you a pencil case.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • This little pencil case is for my mum.

    Blog text (8)
  • In my pencil case, I always have a blue, black and red pen because in school they always tell you red pens are correct.

  • Glitter is extremely fun and I thought it would be a nice addition to my pencil case and my felt tip collection.

  • She handed him a fresh pencil from her pencil case, and he wrote down the first five that came to mind: to swim, to row, to walk, to dance, to worry.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Abiku sucked his teeth and pretended the remark was not intended for him by walking to the end of the line and proceeding to rifle through his schoolbag for his pencil case.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

case
vspencil case
1.0

A box or container for holding and carrying things like bottles

is a small container for pens and other writing instruments not for general items
pencil box
vspencil case
  • US
1 1.0

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

is a small container for pens and other writing instruments rather than rectangular ones

How Organized

organizer
  • Archaic
15 3.8
pencil case
2 1.0
penholder
1 2.9
caddy
9 5.8
mug
112 1.0

Surface Forms

pencil case singular
pencil cases plural

Morphology

pencil + case

The meaning 'a small container for pencils and pens' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pencil' (writing implement) with 'case' (a box or covering). This noun-noun compound follows a common compositional pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The compound pencil case is a simple picture: a small case for pencils and other pens. People used these little boxes to keep their writing tools safe and tidy, so the phrase now means 'a small container for pencils, pens, and other writing tools'.