| 释义 |
bandbox|ˈbændbɒks|
Also 7–8 ban-box.
[f. band n.2 + box.]
a. A slight box of card-board or very thin chip covered with paper, for collars, caps, hats, and millinery; originally made for the ‘bands’ or ruffs of the 17th c. Also fig., a fragile or flimsy structure or one in which the accommodation is restricted.
1631T. Powell Tom All Trades 173 Carrying the Bandbox under their apron. 1633Rowley Match at Midn. iv. in Dodsl. (1780) VII. 413 Enter Maid with a band-box. Constable. How, now! where ha' you been?.. Maid. For my mistress's ruff, at her sempstress'. 1712Addison Spect. No. 311 ⁋1, I..do not suffer a Ban-box to be carried into her Room before it has been searched. 1720Gay Poems (1745) I. 189 With empty ban-box she delights to range. 1758J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 340 Such Wood as they make Bandboxes..with. 1859Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. II. viii. 148 A thing..to be chiefly kept in a bandbox. 1875H. Lee Octopus viii. 81 The vessel was lightly built—a mere bandbox of a craft.
b. to look as if one came out of a bandbox (and similar phrases): to look extremely smart and neat. orig. U.S.
1825S. Woodworth Forest Rose i. i, He is a genteel, delightful looking fellow, neat as a starched tucker fresh from a banbox [sic]. 1833Knickerbocker I. 198 The old gentleman..popped into the room, looking as if he had stepped out of a bandbox. 1869‘Mark Twain’ Innoc. Abroad xxxviii. 410 They are all.. exceedingly neat and cleanly..as if they were just out of a band-box. 1888‘R. Boldrewood’ Robb. under Arms III. vii. 94 Starlight..looked as if he'd just come out of a band-box. 1941M. Marlett Death has Thousand Doors (1950) iv. 32 She invariably looked as though she had stepped out of the proverbial bandbox.
c. attrib. and Comb. bandbox thing: (cf. sense a, quot. 1859.). Also in senses: (a) resembling a bandbox; flimsy, fragile; (b) conspicuously neat and clean; dressed-up.
1727Swift Let. 9 July (1912) III. 405 Letters..which..I can sell at good advantage to the band-box and trunk-maker. 1774Westm. Mag. II. 454 The good man..turned the eye of contempt upon the Band-box Thing, and..said, ‘I believe 'tis a Doll.’ 1838S. Lit. Messenger IV. 638/2 To render fur caps and bandbox hats for winter..articles of vital necessity. 1844Thackeray May Gambols in Fraser's Mag. June 707/2 Spick and span bandbox churches of the pointed Norman style. a1852Moore Country Dance & Quad. xiii. 51 A band-box thing, all art and lace, Down from her nose-tip to her shoe-tie. 1894Sketch 13 June 355/1 The best stage-management in the world could not have made the thing lifelike..on that bandbox stage. 1916J. Buchan Greenmantle xi. 143 Better a bloody end in a street scrap than the tender mercies of that bandbox bravo. 1939Auden & Isherwood Journey to War v. 130 Little band-box officers, slim and smart. 1967V. H. Gielgud Conduct of Member xx. 160 She was wearing a dressing-gown..but preserved her usual band-box quality of neat fastidiousness. |