Words / B1

FOHNB-oks/ˈfəʊn bɒks/

A phone box (id: phone-box) is a public booth with a payphone (UK; US phone booth). A mobile is a personal phone; a call box is a close twin. High street: the phone box is not a changing room; a mobile still goes in the bag on site.

Meaning

A public booth with a payphone (UK; US phone booth).

Examples

• “The high-street phone box is not a changing room; a mobile still goes in the bag on site.”
• “A phone-box 999 call is for emergencies; the attendance line is not in the kiosk.”

Good to know

a phone box (UK). Close: a call box. US: a phone booth. Contrast: a mobile. High street / emergencies. Countable boxes. Mix-up: a box can mean a carton; a phone box is the booth.

Near in meaning

call box

New