Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

jack-in-the-box

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.61 in modern English

Syllables: jack--in-the-box
IPA

37

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

5

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Children’s toy consisting of a small box from which a male figure pops out unexpectedly after some turnings of a crank.

noun

A small but powerful kind of screw, used by burglars to break open safes.

noun

A con-man who deceived tradesmen by substituting empty boxes for others full of money.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

""Did you venture to call me a liar?" ("No, sir, no!" shouted the accused, and disappeared like a Jack-in-the-box.)"
"“There’s this terrible business to start with. Scotland Yard men in and out of the house like a jack-in-the-box! Never know where they won’t turn up next.”"
"Normally, you ring a bell and you have at least a half-minute wait before the door opens. But this person was like a jack-in-the-box. He pressed the bell—and out she popped! It made him jump."
"It was possible, from underneath, to use the old jack-in-the-box safe-breaker's tool which lay in his gasman's bag."

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

jacks-in-boxes (plural) jacks-in-the-boxes (plural) jack-in-the-boxes (plural) jacks-in-the-box (plural)

Phrases

jack-in-the-box effect Jack o’ the clock

Frequently Paired Words

Jack o’ the clock

Questions

What does jack-in-the-box mean?: Children’s toy consisting of a small box from which a male figure pops out unexpectedly after some turnings of a crank.

How to pronounce jack-in-the-box

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