penalty box

plural penalty boxes

1. hobbiesAn enclosed bench where a player must remain for timed period (a penalty) that is assessed after an infraction.

   Both players got to cool their heels for five minutes in their respective penalty boxes after the fight.

2. ball gamesThe penalty area.

   At times, Swindon's penalty box resembled a pinball machine.

   2000 March 12, Stuart Barnes, “Swindon stunner for Curbishley”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: sin bin

3. figurativelyidiomaticA temporary punishment, or, metaphorically, a similar setback (e.g., loss of control, embarrassment, etc.).

   Florida, Michigan seek exit from Democratic penalty box

   2008, John Zarrella and Patrick Oppmann, "Florida, Michigan seek exit from Democratic penalty box," CNN.com, http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/06/florida.michigan/index.html

   2 more examples

   A visit to the penalty box occurs when the salesman has relinquished control of the sales call by immediately answering the customer's question.

   2003, Tim Breithaupt, 10 Steps to Sales Success: The Proven System That Can Shorten the Selling Cycle, Double Your Close Ratio, →ISBN, page 170

   What can land you in this metaphorical holding cell, the penalty box of Catholicism?

   2003, John Portmann, Sex and heaven: Catholics in bed and at prayer, →ISBN, page 155