soapbox
/ˈsəʊpbɒks/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.50 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A small platform, being or resembling a literal soapbox, on which a person stands in order to give an impromptu speech or espouse their views.
noun
A figurative means of talking repeatedly or at length about one's opinions on one's pet topic.
Derogatory
noun
A figurative means of talking repeatedly or at length about one's opinions on one's pet topic.
Derogatory
noun
A soapbox car.
Example Sentences
- "The madman obtained a soapbox which he stood on at the corner of Broadway and Wall street, to shout out his prophecy of the end of the world."
- "The one image which the word “Socialist” brought to Jurgis was of poor little Tamoszius Kuszleika, who had called himself one, and would go out with a couple of other men and a soap-box, and shout himself hoarse on a street corner Saturday nights."
- "The politician used Twitter as his soapbox."
- "Please stop using council meetings as your own personal soapbox."
- "Bernhard's last appearance on a late-night talk show was a handy soapbox to expound on his political message of patriotism, nationalism, and populism."
- "He's been on his soapbox all day about the new football coach."
Etymology
From soap + box. The figurative use of the word derives from the fact that soap products in the US used to be commonly transported to stores in large wooden boxes. It used to be common for individuals to give impromptu rally speeches to their neighbors by finding something to stand on like a soapbox.