box someone's ears

present singular third person boxes someone's ears · participle present boxing someone's ears · participle past boxed someone's ears · past boxed someone's ears

1. idiomaticTo slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.

   1 more example

   "Was it the Matron's practice to box the girls' ears whilst you were at the Home?" "I have seen her do so. She came into the workroom one day when, I think, A— was there. I know it was one of the bigger girls. I took particular notice, because I had never seen anyone using both hands before." "You mean in boxing both ears?" "Yes, first one hand and then the other" "Was that the Matron?" "Yes. I did not know anything had happened until presently I heard a noise, and then I walked out of the room." . . . "Was it a matter of notoriety amongst the staff that the Matron was in the habit of boxing the girls' ears?" "I think the staff all know it."

   1908 Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand. 1908, report of commission Te Oranga Home p.53