box someone's ears

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

box someone's ears (third-person singular simple present boxes someone's ears, present participle boxing someone's ears, simple past and past participle boxed someone's ears)

1. (idiomatic) To slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.
   • 1908 Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. 1908, report of commission Te Oranga Home p.53

     "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."

Translations

slap on the side of the head

Chinese: Mandarin: 打耳光 (zh) (dǎ ěrguāng) Finnish: vedellä pitkin korvia, antaa korvapuusti Portuguese: dar um pé de ouvido m Russian: надрать уши (nadratʹ uši), давать оплеуху / затрещину / подзатыльник (davatʹ opleuxu / zatreščinu / podzatylʹnik) Swedish: ge någon en örfil (sv), ge någon en hurring (sv) Welsh: bonclustio