On the box

Feifei Plates… OK. Spoons… all packed. That’s one box full. The kitchen is finished, Neil!

Neil All packed? Well done. Now let’s move on to the bedroom.

Feifei OK… I’m exhausted. In today’s The English We Speak, Neil and I are moving house, and there’s just so much packing to do. The house is full of cardboard boxes!

Neil I know, I know Feifei. Listen, let’s just finish this room and then we can sit down, relax and see what’s on the box.

Feifei Neil, the last thing I want to do is look at any more boxes! I need a break.

Neil Oh, of course. What I meant was: see what’s on TV! ‘On the box’ is a slang expression meaning ‘on TV’.

Feifei Ok, why didn’t you just say ‘on TV’?! Anyway, let’s play some examples while we finish packing.

Neil Good idea.

Examples A: See anything good on the box last night? B: Yeah! There was this great new series about spies.

A: What are you up to tonight? B: Not much, just gonna relax in front of the box.

Neil Yes - you can also relax ‘in front of the box’, which means in front of the television. And which reminds me, Feifei: where is the box, I mean, our TV?

Feifei Oh, oh yes. I, err… packed it away already. But I don’t remember which box I put it in.

Neil You mean the box, is in… a box? But we’ve packed 20 boxes already. Which one is it in?

Feifei Sorry! Let’s just finish packing and then go out for dinner.

Neil Yes, I’ve had enough of these boxes too, bye.

Feifei Bye!