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Glite Dictionary
squawk box

squawk box

1 6.3
A loudspeaker used to talk to people in a building
  • noun
  • /skwɔk bɑks/
  • US
translation icon : altavoz
  • The word just came over the squawk box.

Examples

  • He's on the squawk box!

    D.C. Cab (1983)

  • A squawk box is on the table. Chuck

    Fiction book (2000)

  • You got a squawk box.

    Captain Phillips (2013)

  • I got Albert on the squawk box!

    D.C. Cab (1983)

  • The squawk box hums and crackles.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • During the event, the announcer's voice echoed through the squawk box for everyone to hear.

  • The coach gave instructions to the players via the squawk box to ensure they understood the game plan.

  • At the concert, the band's sound was amplified through a squawk box so all the fans could enjoy the show.

Synonyms

intercom speaker
vssquawk box
  • Specialized
3.5

A small speaker that plays voice announcements from an intercom or public address system

is the general loudspeaker term rather than the component term
squawker
vssquawk box
  • Specialized
8.6

A speaker used to make announcements inside buildings

is a general loudspeaker rather than one tuned mainly to middle frequencies

How Loud

megaphone
23 3.6
squawk box
  • US
1 6.3
speaker
175 1.5

Surface Forms

squawk box singular
squawk boxes plural

Morphology

squawk + box

The parts 'squawk' (a loud, high‑pitched noise) and 'box' (a container or device) allow a learner to infer a box that makes squawking sounds — i.e. a sound‑producing device. However, identifying the specific conventional referent 'loudspeaker/intercom' is jargon-like and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Squawk box probably comes from the picture of a small box that makes a loud, sharp squawk like a bird when someone speaks into it. So today squawk box means 'a loudspeaker' or office 'intercom' used to send loud messages.