box : Idioms & Phrases

Index


alms box

  • noun box for collecting alms, especially one in a church
    mite box; alms box.
WordNet

axle box

Ax"le box`
Definitions
  1. A bushing in the hub of a wheel, through which the axle passes.
  2. The journal box of a rotating axle, especially a railway axle. ✍ In railway construction, the axle guard, or pedestal, with the superincumbent weight, rests on the top of the box (usually with a spring intervening), and holds it in place by flanges. The box rests upon the journal bearing and key, which intervene between the inner top of the box and the axle.
Webster 1913

Balaam basket or box

  • (Print.), the receptacle for rejected articles.
Webster 1913

Ballot box

  • noun a box where voters deposit their ballots
WordNet
  • a box for receiving ballots.
Webster 1913

batter's box

  • noun an area on a baseball diamond (on either side of home plate) marked by lines within which the batter must stand when at bat
WordNet

black box

  • noun equipment that records information about the performance of an aircraft during flight
WordNet

boom box

  • noun a portable stereo
    ghetto blaster.
WordNet

Box beam

  • noun a beam built up from boards; has a hollow rectangular cross section
    box beam.
WordNet
  • (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box.
Webster 1913

box calf

  • noun black calfskin leather tanned with chromium salts
WordNet

box camera

  • noun a simple camera shaped like a rectangular box
    box camera.
WordNet

Box car

  • (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.
Webster 1913

Box chronometer

  • a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position.
Webster 1913

Box coat

  • noun a short coat that hangs loosely from the shoulders
WordNet
  • a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain.
Webster 1913

Box coupling

  • a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery.
Webster 1913

Box crab

  • (Zoöl.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.
Webster 1913

Box drain

  • (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom.
Webster 1913

Box elder

  • noun common shade tree of eastern and central United States
    Acer negundo; ash-leaved maple.
WordNet
  • the ash-leaved maple (Negundo aceroides), of North America.
Webster 1913

box end wrench

  • noun a wrench with a closed loop (a socket) that fits over a nut or bolt head
    box end wrench.
WordNet

box family

  • noun widely distributed evergreen shrubs and trees
    Buxaceae; family Buxaceae.
WordNet

Box girder

  • noun a beam built up from boards; has a hollow rectangular cross section
    box beam.
WordNet
  • (Arch.), a box beam.
Webster 1913

Box groove

  • (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. R. W. Raymond.
Webster 1913

Box holly

  • the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus).
Webster 1913

box huckleberry

  • noun creeping evergreen shrub of southeastern United States having small shiny boxlike leaves and flavorless berries
    Gaylussacia brachycera.
WordNet

box in

  • verb enclose or confine as if in a box
    box in.
WordNet

box kite

  • noun a kite shaped like a box open at both ends
WordNet

box kodak

  • noun a simple camera shaped like a rectangular box
    box camera.
WordNet

Box metal

  • an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.
Webster 1913

box number

  • noun the number of a letter box at the post office where mail is collected
    PO Box No; PO box number; box number.
  • noun a mailing address to which answers to a newspaper ad can be sent
WordNet

box office

  • noun total admission receipts for an entertainment
  • noun the office where tickets of admission are sold
    ticket office; ticket booth.
WordNet

Box plait

  • a plait that doubles both to the rigth and the left.
Webster 1913

box pleat

  • noun a flat double pleat made by folding under the fabric on either side of it
WordNet

box seat

  • noun a special seat in a theater or grandstand box
  • noun the driver's seat on a coach
    box.
    • an armed guard sat in the box with the driver
WordNet

box spring

  • noun a coiled bedspring in a frame that is covered with cloth
WordNet

Box thorn

  • a shrub (Lycium barbarum).
Webster 1913

Box tortoise

  • noun chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly
    box tortoise.
WordNet
  • (Zoöl.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. Emerson.
Webster 1913

Box tree

  • the tree variety of the common box.
Webster 1913

Box turtle

  • noun chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly
    box tortoise.
WordNet
Webster 1913

box up

  • verb enclose or confine as if in a box
    box in.
WordNet

box white oak

  • noun small deciduous tree of eastern and central United States having dark green lyrate pinnatifid leaves and tough moisture-resistant wood used especially for fence posts
    post oak; brash oak; iron oak; Quercus stellata.
WordNet

box wrench

  • noun a wrench with a closed loop (a socket) that fits over a nut or bolt head
    box end wrench.
WordNet

box-iron

Box"-i`ron noun
Definitions
  1. A hollow smoothing iron containing a heater within.
Webster 1913

box-shaped

  • adjective satellite resembling a box in rectangularity
    boxlike; boxy.
WordNet

boxed in

  • adjective satellite enclosed in or as if in a box
    boxed in; boxed.
    • boxed cigars
    • a confining boxed-in space
    • felt boxed in by the traffic
WordNet

boxed-in

  • adjective satellite enclosed in or as if in a box
    boxed in; boxed.
    • boxed cigars
    • a confining boxed-in space
    • felt boxed in by the traffic
WordNet

boxing day

  • noun first weekday after Christmas
WordNet

boxing equipment

  • noun equipment used in boxing
WordNet

boxing glove

  • noun boxing equipment consisting of big and padded coverings for the fists of the fighters; worn for the sport of boxing
    glove.
WordNet

boxing match

  • noun a match between boxers; usually held in a boxing ring
WordNet

boxing ring

  • noun a square ring where boxers fight
    prize ring.
WordNet

Brain boxcase

  • the bony on cartilaginous case inclosing the brain.
Webster 1913

california box elder

  • noun maple of the Pacific coast of the United States; fruits are white when mature
    Acer negundo Californicum.
WordNet

call box

  • noun booth for using a telephone
    phone booth; telephone kiosk; call box; telephone booth.
  • noun a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for
    letter box; POB; call box; PO Box.
WordNet

Cartridge box

  • a case, usually of leather, attached to a belt or strap, for holding cartridges.
Webster 1913

cat box

  • noun a receptacle for cat excrement
WordNet

cereal box

  • noun a paper box in which breakfast cereals are sold
WordNet

Christmas box

  • noun a present given at Christmas for services during the year
WordNet
  • . (a) A box in which presents are deposited at Christmas. (b) A present or small gratuity given to young people and servants at Christmas; a Christmas gift.
Webster 1913

cigar box

  • noun a box for holding cigars
WordNet

cigar-box cedar

  • noun fragrant wood much used for cigar boxes
WordNet

Clack box

  • (Mach.), the box or chamber in which a clack valve works.
Webster 1913

coin box

  • noun the part of a slot machine that serves as a receptacle for the coins
WordNet

common box

  • noun large slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems; extensively used for hedges or borders and topiary figures
    Buxus sempervirens; common box.
WordNet

Core box

  • (Founding), a box or mold, usually divisible, in which cores are molded.
Webster 1913

Coupling box

  • a coupling shaped like a journal box, for clamping together the ends of two shafts, so that they may revolve together.
Webster 1913

deposit box

  • noun a fireproof metal strongbox (usually in a bank) for storing valuables
    safe-deposit box; deposit box; safety-deposit; safe-deposit; lockbox.
WordNet

dialog box

  • noun (computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel'
    panel.
WordNet

dice box

  • noun a small container (open at one end) in which dice are shaken by hand and from which they are thrown
    dice cup.
WordNet

Dispatch box

  • noun case consisting of an oblong container (usually having a lock) for carrying dispatches or other valuables
    dispatch case.
WordNet
  • a box for carrying dispatches; a box for papers and other conveniences when traveling.
Webster 1913

ditty-box

Dit"ty-box` noun
Definitions
  1. A small box to hold a sailor's thread, needless, comb, etc.
Webster 1913

Draft box, Draft engine, Draft horse, Draft net, Draft ox, Draft tube

  • . Same as Draught box, Draught engine, etc. See under Draught.
Webster 1913

Draught box

  • . See Draught tube, below.
Webster 1913

Dredging box

  • . (a) Same as 2d Dredger. (b) (Gun.) A copper box with a perforated lid; used for sprinkling meal powder over shell fuses.
Webster 1913

Driving box

  • (Locomotive), the journal box of a driving axle. See Illust. of Locomotive.
Webster 1913

drudging box

Drudg"ing box`
Definitions
  1. See Dredging box.
Webster 1913

Equation box, ∨ Equational box

  • a system of differential gearing used in spinning machines for regulating the twist of the yarn. It resembles gearing used in equation clocks for showing apparent time.
Webster 1913

european box

  • noun large slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with multiple stems; extensively used for hedges or borders and topiary figures
    Buxus sempervirens; common box.
WordNet

Fairing box

  • a box receiving savings or small sums of money.
Webster 1913

Faking box

  • a box in which a long rope is faked; used in the life-saving service for a line attached to a shot.
Webster 1913

Fire box

  • the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for the fire.
Webster 1913

Flour box

  • a tin box for scattering flour; a dredging box.
Webster 1913

Funnel box

  • (Mining), an apparatus for collecting finely crushed ore from water. Knight.
Webster 1913

gear box

  • noun the shell (metal casing) in which a train of gears is sealed
    gear case; gearbox.
WordNet

goggle box

  • noun an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
    goggle box; television; boob tube; tv; tv set; television receiver; telly; television set.
    • the British call a tv set a telly
WordNet

Heck box ∨ frame

  • that which carries the heck in warping.
Webster 1913

Horse box

  • a railroad car for transporting valuable horses, as hunters. Eng.
Webster 1913

Hunting box

  • . Same As Hunting lodge (below).
Webster 1913

Ice boxchest

  • a box for holding ice; a box in which things are kept cool by means of ice; a refrigerator.
Webster 1913

idiot box

  • noun an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
    goggle box; television; boob tube; tv; tv set; television receiver; telly; television set.
    • the British call a tv set a telly
WordNet

In a box

  • in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.)
Webster 1913

In the wrong box

  • out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) Ridley (1554)
Webster 1913

Jack-in-a-box

  • . (a) (Bot.) A tropical tree (Hernandia sonora), which bears a drupe that rattles when dry in the inflated calyx . (b) A child's toy, consisting of a box, out of which, when the lid is raised, a figure springs . (c) (Mech.) An epicyclic train of bevel gears for transmitting rotary motion to two parts in such a manner that their relative rotation may be variable; applied to driving the wheels of tricycles, road locomotives, and to cotton machinery, etc.; an equation box; a jack frame; called also compensating gearing . (d) A large wooden screw turning in a nut attached to the crosspiece of a rude press.
Webster 1913

jack-in-the-box

  • noun plaything consisting of a toy clown that jumps out of a box when the lid is opened
WordNet

journal box

  • noun metal housing for a journal bearing
WordNet

Journal box, ∨ Journal bearing

  • (Mach.) the carrier of a journal; the box in which the journal of a shaft, axle, or pin turns.
Webster 1913

jury box

  • noun an enclosure within a courtroom for the jury
WordNet

Letter box

  • noun a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for
    letter box; POB; call box; PO Box.
  • noun public box for deposit of mail
    postbox; mailbox.
  • noun a private box for delivery of mail
    mailbox.
WordNet
  • a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered.
Webster 1913

Limber box ∨ chest

  • (Mil.), a box on the limber for carrying ammunition.
Webster 1913

Live box

  • a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. P. H. Gosse.
Webster 1913

marmalade box

  • noun tree of the West Indies and northern South America bearing succulent edible orange-sized fruit
    genipap fruit; Genipa Americana; jagua.
WordNet

Match box

  • a box for holding matches.
Webster 1913

mite box

  • noun box for collecting alms, especially one in a church
    mite box; alms box.
WordNet

Miter box

  • noun hand tool for guiding handsaws in making crosscuts or miter joints
    miter box.
WordNet
  • (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp., a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its upright sides, for guides.
Webster 1913

mitre box

  • noun hand tool for guiding handsaws in making crosscuts or miter joints
    miter box.
WordNet

money box

  • noun a container (usually with a slot in the top) for keeping money at home
    coin bank; bank; savings bank.
    • the coin bank was empty
  • noun a strongbox for holding cash
    till; cashbox.
WordNet

mountain box

  • noun evergreen mat-forming shrub of North America and northern Eurasia having small white flowers and red berries; leaves turn red in autumn
    sand berry; creashak; common bearberry; wild cranberry; mealberry; bear's grape; sandberry; hog cranberry; Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; red bearberry.
WordNet

Music box

  • noun produces music by means of pins on a revolving cylinder that strike the tuned teeth of a comb-like metal plate
    music box.
WordNet
  • . See Musical box, under Musical.
Webster 1913

Musical, ∨ Music, box

  • a box or case containing apparatus moved by clockwork so as to play certain tunes automatically.
Webster 1913

musical box

  • noun produces music by means of pins on a revolving cylinder that strike the tuned teeth of a comb-like metal plate
    music box.
WordNet

Oil box, ∨ Oil cellar

  • (Mach.), a fixed box or reservoir, for lubricating a bearing; esp., the box for oil beneath the journal of a railway-car axle.
Webster 1913

Omnibus box

  • a large box in a theater, on a level with the stage and having communication with it. Eng.
Webster 1913

Opera box

  • a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party.
Webster 1913

out-of-the-box thinking

  • noun thinking that moves away in diverging directions so as to involve a variety of aspects and which sometimes lead to novel ideas and solutions; associated with creativity
    divergent thinking.
WordNet

outlet box

  • noun (electricity) receptacle consisting of the metal box designed for connections to a wiring system
WordNet

Packing box

  • noun a small chamber in which packing is compressed around a reciprocating shaft or piston to form a seal
    packing box.
  • noun a large crate in which goods are packed for shipment or storage
    packing case.
WordNet
  • a stuffing box. See under Stuffing.
Webster 1913

Paddle box

  • noun a wooden covering for the upper part of a paddlewheel
    paddle box.
WordNet
  • the structure inclosing the upper part of the paddle wheel of a steam vessel.
Webster 1913

paddle-box

  • noun a wooden covering for the upper part of a paddlewheel
    paddle box.
WordNet

pandora's box

  • noun (Greek mythology) a box that Zeus gave to Pandora with instructions that she not open it; she gave in to her curiosity and opened it; all the miseries and evils flew out to afflict mankind
WordNet

Pass box

  • (Mil.), a wooden or metallic box, used to carry cartridges from the service magazine to the piece.
Webster 1913

Pattern box, chain, ∨ cylinder

  • (Figure Weaving), devices, in a loom, for presenting several shuttles to the picker in the proper succession for forming the figure.
Webster 1913

penalty box

  • noun (ice hockey) an enclosed bench to the side of an ice-hockey rink for players who are serving time penalties
WordNet

pencil box

  • noun a box for holding pencils
    pencil case.
WordNet

pepper box

  • noun a shaker with a perforated top for sprinkling ground pepper
    pepper pot; pepper shaker.
WordNet

Pepper boxcaster

  • a small box or bottle, with a perforated lid, used for sprinkling ground pepper on food, etc.
Webster 1913

pillar box

  • noun a red pillar-shaped letter box
WordNet

play-box

  • noun a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school)
    playbox.
WordNet

po box

  • noun a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for
    letter box; POB; call box; PO Box.
WordNet

po box no

  • noun the number of a letter box at the post office where mail is collected
    PO Box No; PO box number; box number.
WordNet

po box number

  • noun the number of a letter box at the post office where mail is collected
    PO Box No; PO box number; box number.
WordNet

poor box

  • noun box for collecting alms, especially one in a church
    mite box; alms box.
WordNet

post-office box

  • noun a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for
    letter box; POB; call box; PO Box.
WordNet

post-office box number

  • noun the number of a letter box at the post office where mail is collected
    PO Box No; PO box number; box number.
WordNet

pouchet box

Pou"chet box`
Definitions
  1. See Pouncet box.
Webster 1913

Pounce box

  • a box for sprinkling pounce.
Webster 1913

pouncet box

Poun"cet box`
Etymology
Cf. F. poncette, fr. ponce pounce. See Pounce a powder.
Definitions
  1. A box with a perforated lid, for sprinkling pounce, or for holding perfumes. Shak.
Webster 1913

press box

  • noun box reserved for reporters (as at a sports event)
WordNet

professional boxing

  • noun boxing for money
WordNet

prompt box

  • noun a booth projecting above the floor in the front of a stage where the prompter sits; opens toward the performers on stage
    prompt box.
WordNet

prompter's box

  • noun a booth projecting above the floor in the front of a stage where the prompter sits; opens toward the performers on stage
    prompt box.
WordNet

Resistance box

  • (Elec.), a rheostat consisting of a box or case containing a number of resistance coils of standard values so arranged that they can be combined in various ways to afford more or less resistance.
Webster 1913

safe-deposit box

  • noun a fireproof metal strongbox (usually in a bank) for storing valuables
    safe-deposit box; deposit box; safety-deposit; safe-deposit; lockbox.
WordNet

safety deposit box

  • noun a fireproof metal strongbox (usually in a bank) for storing valuables
    safe-deposit box; deposit box; safety-deposit; safe-deposit; lockbox.
WordNet

Sand box

  • . (a) A box with a perforated top or cover, for sprinkling paper with sand . (b) A box carried on locomotives, from which sand runs on the rails in front of the driving wheel, to prevent slipping.
Webster 1913

Sand-box tree

  • (Bot.), a tropical American tree (Hura crepitans). Its fruit is a depressed many-celled woody capsule which, when completely dry, bursts with a loud report and scatters the seeds. See Illust. of Regma.
Webster 1913

Screw box

  • a device, resembling a die, for cutting the thread on a wooden screw.
Webster 1913

Sentry box

  • noun a small shelter with an open front to protect a sentry from the weather
WordNet
  • a small house or box to cover a sentinel at his post, and shelter him from the weather.
Webster 1913

shadow box

  • noun a shallow rectangular box with a transparent front used to protect and display small items (jewelry, coins, etc.)
WordNet

Shooting box

  • noun a small country house used by hunters during the shooting season
    shooting lodge.
WordNet
  • a small house in the country for use in the shooting season. Prof. Wilson.
Webster 1913

Show box

  • a box xontaining some object of curiosity carried round as a show.
Webster 1913

Shuttle box

  • (Weaving), a case at the end of a shuttle race, to receive the shuttle after it has passed the thread of the warp; also, one of a set of compartments containing shuttles with different colored threads, which are passed back and forth in a certain order, according to the pattern of the cloth woven.
Webster 1913

  • a box or inclosed seat on the side of a theater.
    To insure a side-box station at half price. Cowper.
Webster 1913

signal box

  • noun a building from which signals are sent to control the movements of railway trains
    signal tower.
WordNet

Slide box

  • (Steam Engine), a steam chest. See under Steam.
Webster 1913

Smoke box

  • a chamber in a boiler, where the smoke, etc., from the furnace is collected before going out at the chimney.
Webster 1913

Spring box

  • the box or barrel in a watch, or other piece of mechanism, in which the spring is contained.
Webster 1913

squawk box

  • noun the loudspeaker on an intercom or public address system
    squawker; intercom speaker.
WordNet

squeeze box

  • noun a portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; the reeds are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player
    piano accordion; accordion.
WordNet

Stage box

  • a box close to the stage in a theater.
Webster 1913

Stuffing box

  • noun a small chamber in which packing is compressed around a reciprocating shaft or piston to form a seal
    packing box.
WordNet
  • a device for rendering a joint impervious where there is a hole through which a movable cylindrical body, as the paston rod of a steam engine, or the plunger of a pump, slides back and forth, or in which a shaft turns. It usually consists of a box or chamber, made by an enlargement of part of the hole, forming a space around the rod or shaft for containing packing which is compressed and made to fill the space closely by means of a sleeve, called the gland, which fits loosely around the rod, and is pressed upon the packing by bolts or other means.
Webster 1913

Sweat box

  • (Naut.), a small closet in which refractory men are confined.
Webster 1913

telephone box

  • noun booth for using a telephone
    phone booth; telephone kiosk; call box; telephone booth.
WordNet

Tinder box

  • a box in which tinder is kept.
Webster 1913

To box a tree

  • to make an incision or hole in a tree for the purpose of procuring the sap.
Webster 1913

To box off

  • to divide into tight compartments.
  • (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback.
Webster 1913

To box the compass

  • (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the compass in their order.
Webster 1913

To box up

  • . (a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had boxed up twelve score pounds. (b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in narrow quarters.
Webster 1913

Tobacco box

  • (Zoöl.), the common American skate.
Webster 1913

toe box

  • noun the forward tip of the upper of a shoe or boot that provides space and protection for the toes
    • the toe box may be rounded or pointed
WordNet

touch-box

Touch"-box` noun
Definitions
  1. A box containing lighted tinder, formerly carried by soldiers who used matchlocks, to kindle the match.
Webster 1913

toy box

  • noun chest for storage of toys
    toy chest.
WordNet

tuck box

  • noun a box for storing eatables (especially at boarding school)
WordNet

voice box

  • noun a cartilaginous structure at the top of the trachea; contains elastic vocal cords that are the source of the vocal tone in speech
    larynx.
WordNet

Wall box

  • . (Mach.) See Wall frame, below.
Webster 1913

Weather box

  • . Same as Weather house, below. Thackeray.
Webster 1913

western box turtle

  • noun primarily a prairie turtle of western United States and northern Mexico
    Terrapene ornata.
WordNet

Window box

  • noun a long narrow box for growing plants on a windowsill
WordNet
  • one of the hollows in the sides of a window frame for the weights which counterbalance a lifting sash. also called counterweight channel. (b) a box placed outside a window, on the windowsill, containing soil, in which flowers are grown or displayed as decoration.
Webster 1913

witness box

  • noun a box enclosure for a witness when testifying
    witness stand.
WordNet