box someone's ears en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.
"Was it the Matron's practice to box the girls' ears whilst you were at the Home?" "I have seen her do so. She came into the workroom one day when, I think, A— was there. I know it was one of the bigger girls. I took particular notice, because I had never seen anyone using both hands before." "You mean in boxing both ears?" "Yes, first one hand and then the other" "Was that the Matron?" "Yes. I did not know anything had happened until presently I heard a noise, and then I walked out of the room." . . . "Was it a matter of notoriety amongst the staff that the Matron was in the habit of boxing the girls' ears?" "I think the staff all know it."
1908 Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. 1908, report of commission Te Oranga Home p.53
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| boxes someone's ears | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| boxed someone's ears | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| boxed someone's ears | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| boxing someone's ears | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Translations (9)
fi vedellä pitkin korvia (slap on the side of the head) · fi antaa korvapuusti (slap on the side of the head) · cmn 打耳光 (slap on the side of the head) · ru давать оплеуху / затрещину / подзатыльник (slap on the side of the head) · sv ge någon en hurring (slap on the side of the head) · sv ge någon en örfil (slap on the side of the head) · ru надрать уши (slap on the side of the head) · pt dar um pé de ouvido (slap on the side of the head) · cy bonclustio (slap on the side of the head)