be boxing clever
To be acting skillfully and cunningly or deceitfully to achieve a desired outcome. Primarily heard in UK. I wasn't boxing clever at the time, so it was easy for the headmaster to see that I had broken the rules. I know you're boxing clever, acting you've been in your room all night and didn't just sneak in the house a few minutes ago. Of course he's boxing clever, that's how he sucks people into his schemes!
box
1. verb To exchange punches with an opponent. I love to box and have been working on my right hook this week. Of course your mom hates that you box—you make a living by getting punched in the face! Have you ever boxed before? I hear it's a great cardio workout.
2. noun, slang A coffin. It was a bad car accident, but no one ended up in a box, thank goodness. Don't worry, boss. That rat will be in a box before he ever gets close to the police station. You're going to end up in a box if you keep driving so recklessly!
3. noun A very large portable radio or boombox. It can also be called a "ghetto box." There are so many kids in the neighborhood with boxes that I can barely hear myself think! The stereotypical image of hip hop in the '80s is a guy walking down the street with a huge box on his shoulder. When I was growing up, you could always count on somebody coming to the block party with a box and some great tunes.
4. noun A record player. My parents love playing their old records on the box. When I was your age, none of these portable devices were available to us—we could only play records on the box! Sounds like Grandpa put one of those old-timey love songs on the box upstairs.
5. noun An accordion. Can also be called a "squeeze box." Most polka music incorporates a box. Most kids his age want to play the drums or electric guitar, but he has always had a fascination with the squeezebox, of all things. My granddad could liven up any room just by picking up his box and playing some jaunty tune.
6. noun, rude slang The female genitals. He just seems so lecherous—I bet he's after your box. We're just friends, so I'm sure he doesn't want my box or anything.
7. noun, rude slang The male genitals, typically when covered by clothing. Yeah, I noticed his box—how could you miss it? A: "Check out that model walking down the runway." B: "Well, hello! He has quite a box, doesn't he?"
box (one's) ears
dated To hit one on the head, especially on or around one's ears. Typically used as a threat. The next time you borrow my car without my permission, I'll box your ears! Mom will box my ears if she finds out I broke her antique vase. Son, I asked you a question. Sass me like that again and I'll box your ears!
box (oneself) into a corner
To create a predicament or unpleasant situation for oneself whereby there are no or very few favorable solutions or outcomes. I really boxed myself into a corner by leaving this essay till the last minute! The candidate boxed himself into a corner during the debate, having to take back several things he'd already said. Why did you agree to go if you didn't really want to? You've boxed yourself into a corner now
box clever
To act skillfully and cunningly or deceitfully to achieve a desired outcome. Primarily heard in UK. The principal is already on to you, so you're going to have to box clever to avoid a suspension. Quit boxing clever—I know you just snuck into the house a few minutes ago. He'll just box clever, that's how he sucks people into his schemes!
box in
1. To physically block and thus prevent someone or something from moving from a certain spot. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "in." Well, I guess I'm not leaving yet because that van is boxing in my car. All this junk is boxing in my tools at the back of the garage—I can't get to any of them. We need to move fast and box in the cat before she can escape again!
2. To limit one's options or cause one to feel restricted or stuck. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "in." I'm a very versatile performer—don't just box me in as a comedic actress. You're only boxed in because your grades are so bad. If you'd been a better student, more colleges would have accepted you. I felt boxed in the moment the doctor told me I was pregnant.
box it out
To get into a fistfight. We came outside and saw two guys boxing it out in the parking lot. Those kids were boxing it out in the cafeteria until the headmaster came in and separated them. You want to box it out, tough guy? Quit pushing me!
box off
1. To accomplish some task that one has been meaning to complete or take care of. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "off." We'll need to do the paperwork sooner or later, so let's just box it off this weekend. There are a few things we still need to box off during this meeting. I've been asking you kids to clean out the attic for weeks. Would you please box it off this weekend?
2. nautical To force the head of the boat away from the wind by hauling the jib sheets toward the rear of the boat and the headsail to the windward side. The first mate ordered the crew to begin boxing off. A: "'Box off'? What does that even mean?" B: "Ask Grandpa, he knows way more about sailing than any of us!" All right, pull the jib this way to box off.
box on the table
slang To die in surgery. We did everything we could, but the patient boxed on the table. Her husband died young. I heard he boxed on the table during some routine procedure. A: "She keeps putting of this surgery because she's afraid she's going to box on the table." B: "Yeah, well, she'll die if she does nothing about her cancerous tumor!"
box out
1. To create or outline the borders of some square or rectangular area. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "out." We'll need to box out an area in the back yard for the new vegetable patch. Let's use masking tape to box out where the couch and TV will go, then we'll be able to see how much room is left for other furniture. Mom's out back boxing out her spring flower beds.
2. In basketball, to position and maneuver oneself between the basket and an opposing player so as to intercept a rebound following a shot. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "out." You've got to start boxing him out, or else he's going to keep getting those rebounds all day long! Their guy's a giant! How is the smallest guy on our team supposed to effectively box him out, huh? Grant missed his shot and then Thompson boxed him out on the rebound.
3. In hockey, to position and maneuver oneself in such a way as to prevent an opposing player from gaining a clear shot on net. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "out." During a power play, when you're down a player, you have to be able to box out the other team. I made an attempt to box out their forward but only ended up deflecting his shot into the net. Come on, ref, that's a penalty! Their D-man didn't just box my guy out, he bowled him over!
4. To exclude someone from a situation, especially through deceit or manipulation. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "out." The entire board of directors is trying to box me out of the decision-making process. A: "How dare you box me out of my own company!" B: "Dad, you have to let the next generation take things over." I can't believe I invested in that guy's product, only to be totally boxed out once it started making money!
box the compass
1. To count off all 32 points of a compass in a clockwise order. Sailor! Box the compass for me, posthaste! I need a man to box the compass for me! Grandpa was sharp until the day he died. Heck, he could still box the compass with the best of them.
2. To completely reverse one's position or stance on something, such an issue, belief, argument, etc. After seeing so much evidence regarding climate change, I was forced to box the compass. She fought me on that for years! I can't believe she's finally boxed the compass. I used to be OK with school taxes, but I've boxed the compass now that I know I'll never have kids of my own. Why should I pay for other people's children to go to school?
box up
1. To force to be in a small or confining space. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "up." Now that Jenny is off at college, can I move into her bedroom? I'm sick of being boxed up in my tiny room. I always take the stairs because I hate boxing myself up in an elevator. Why does the cat like to box herself up in the corner of the closet?
2. To pack objects into a box. A noun or pronoun can be used between "box" and "up." I am in the process of boxing up my entire house for a cross-country move. Please be careful when you box those dishes up. We're getting ready to move into the new house, and the dog is very suspicious now that we've begun boxing up her toys and food.
hotbox
slang To smoke marijuana in an enclosed space in order to let the smoke accumulate and thus achieve a stronger high. Mom will definitely smell it if we hotbox in her car! I've smoked a joint before, yeah, but I've never, like, hotboxed or hit a bong or anything. A: "Let's hotbox and take your mind off this awful week." B: "Yeah, but that's only temporary—all the worries will be waiting for me when I sober up."
hotboxing
slang The act of smoking marijuana in an enclosed space in order to let the smoke accumulate and thus achieve a stronger high. Look at all that smoke—I bet they're hotboxing in there! I've smoked a joint before, yeah, but I've never tried, like, hotboxing or hitting a bong or anything. A: "Hotboxing will take your mind off this awful week." B: "Yeah, but only briefly—all the worries will be waiting for me when I sober up."
shadowbox
To punch at the air as if one has an imaginary opponent. While we finished up our conversation in the parking lot, that goofball Jimmy shadowboxed around us. I always shadowbox for 15 minutes or so before getting in the ring against a real opponent.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.