jack-in-the-box

noun

ˈjak-ən-t͟hə-ˌbäks 

plural jack-in-the-boxes or jacks-in-the-box

: a toy consisting of a small box out of which a figure (as of a clown's head) springs when the lid is raised

Examples of jack-in-the-box in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To rival the Sandworm and Wolverine popcorn buckets, there’s a Beetlejuice jack-in-the-box popcorn bucket at Cinemark. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024

Mitchell, 86, joined Mattel in 1955 assembling jack-in-the-boxes, four years before the company debuted its iconic blond-haired Barbie. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2024

The play wants Josh’s secret involving a past incident with his father-in-law to spring out at the climax like a jack-in-the-box, but the information, already hazily intuited by the audience, is awkwardly integrated into the larger story. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023

Frequent disruptions put us on high alert like a jack-in-the-box, triggering a release of adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol. —Brittany Harker Martin, Fortune Well, 4 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

jack-in-the-box

noun

ˈjak-ən-t͟hə-ˌbäks

plural jack-in-the-boxes or jacks-in-the-box

: a small box out of which a figure (as of a clown's head) springs when the lid is raised