box (redirected from boxed sheep up)

box clever (British)

to behave in a clever and sometimes slightly dishonest way to try to achieve a result you want. Obviously he would have to box clever in the witness stand to avoid implicating himself.

See also: clever

box someone's ears (old-fashioned)

to hit someone, usually as a punishment. I'll box your ears, young man, if you come home late again!

See also: ear

a brain box (British & Australian, informal)

a very intelligent person. Come on brain box, what's the answer?

See also: brain

chocolate box

a chocolate box place or thing is very attractive in a way that does not seem real. We drove through a series of chocolate box villages on our way down to Brighton. (always before noun)

the goggle-box (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

the television. There are plenty of good shows on the goggle box at the moment.

open a Pandora's box

to do something that causes a lot of new problems that you did not expect. Sadly, his reforms opened a Pandora's box of domestic problems. (often + of)

See also: open

---

open (a) Pandora's box

to start something that causes many new and unexpected problems. They worry that any decision they make about testing will open a Pandora's box. What kind of Pandora's box do we open if we decide not arrest people who have committed a crime?

Etymology: based on an old Greek story in which a woman named Pandora opened a box containing all the troubles the world has experienced

See also: open

think outside the box

to develop ideas that are different and unusual. We need to think outside the box if we are going to come up with something really new. These guys are incredibly creative — they really know how to think out of the box.

Usage notes: sometimes used with verbs other than think: You need to look outside the box and see what you can come up with.

Etymology: based on the idea that limiting your thoughts is like thinking inside a box which can contain only a certain number of ideas

See also: outside, think