soap-box

A man stands on a soap-box to give a speech in the park.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A container for soap: "soap-box" refers to a crate or box originally designed to hold bars of soap.
   • A makeshift platform for public speaking: "soap-box" also means a raised stand, often improvised, used by orators to address crowds in public spaces, especially outdoors.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To deliver a speech from a soapbox: "soap-box" means to give an impassioned or informal speech, typically in a public place, as if standing on a soapbox.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The old soap-box was used to store cleaning supplies in the basement. (A container for soap.)
  • He climbed onto the soap-box in the park to protest the new law. (A makeshift platform for public speaking.)

• Verb:

  • She loves to soap-box about environmental issues at the town square. (To deliver an impassioned speech in public.)

Advanced Usage

• "to get on one's soap-box": to begin speaking passionately about a topic, often in a preachy or self-righteous manner.

  • Whenever politics comes up, he gets on his soap-box and won't stop talking. (He begins a lengthy, opinionated speech.)

• "soap-box orator": a person who gives speeches from a soapbox, especially one who is enthusiastic or opinionated.

  • The soap-box orator drew a small crowd with his fiery rhetoric. (The public speaker attracted listeners.)

Variants and Related Words

• Soapbox (noun, alternative spelling): the same as "soap-box", often written as one word.

  • He stood on a soapbox to address the crowd. (A makeshift platform.)

• Soapbox (adj): relating to or characteristic of a soapbox speech or speaker.

  • His soapbox style of speaking can be exhausting. (Passionate and informal.)

Synonyms

• Platform: a raised surface for standing on, especially for public speaking.
• Pulpit: a raised platform in a church for delivering sermons, metaphorically used for any speaking platform.
• Rostrum: a small raised platform for a speaker or performer.

Phrasal Verbs

• Soap-box about: to speak passionately or at length about a specific topic.
  • He soap-boxed about the need for better public transportation for an hour. (He gave an extended, passionate speech.)

Related Idioms

• To climb onto a soap-box: to begin speaking in a self-important or argumentative way about a subject.

  • She climbed onto her soap-box about the unfairness of the new rules. (She started a passionate, critical speech.)

• To be on a soap-box: to be in the middle of delivering a passionate or preachy speech.

  • He's on his soap-box again about climate change. (He is giving a lengthy, opinionated speech.)