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Ruth
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 6:57am | IP Logged
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This morning my husband used an expression on me that I never heard before
I had just finished a long winded oratory and my husband looked at me for a brief moment and then leaned over, looked under my chair and said, "Nice Soapbox."
Confused, I actually looked under my chair for whatever he could be referring to, but there was nothing there.
I say, "What's a soapbox?" and then he starts laughing  . I've never heard of this expression before! 
My husband suggested that I post this to see what responses I may get to the following question:
What does the "soapbox" expression mean to you because my husband was actually playing with me.
(btw: My husband actually composed this post. I would never use such big words!) 
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Ruth
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Mary K
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:02am | IP Logged
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The term soapbox comes from standing on a box to be higher than a crowd to whom you wish to express your opinion. I'm thinking old soapboxes were sturdy enough to hold one's weight. Nowadays, we'd have to stand on a laundry detergent bucket. LOL.
God bless,
Mary
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:05am | IP Logged
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A common expression here in Australia and as Mary said, it was something you could stand on in public to express your opinion - sort of like the poorman's podium!
So if you are 'preaching' to someone or loudly voicing your opinion on something, someone may tell you to 'get off your soapbox' or 'you can get off your soapbox now!'
So I'll get off mine now..... 
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:06am | IP Logged
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Most politicians of yesteryear used the old soapbox to get up and talk for some length to the crowds. Their talking was more like a sermon, thus the expression "get off your soapbox."
You must've been really rolling with him this morning
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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My husband always tells me I'm on my soapbox when I start talking about the evils of abortion, the great things about homeschooling, etc. He agrees with me on all these things, he's just not always as vocal about them as I am!
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Cheryl
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:10am | IP Logged
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To me, it means just what Mary wrote. The visual I get when I hear it: The girl from the Salvation Army mission standing on a crate during the Guys and Dolls play I saw when I was a teenager.
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Tami
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:22am | IP Logged
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Yes, yes, to all of the above! I've been known to get up on mine on various issues. And as I (theoretically) step down, I always worry about twisting my ankle.
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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Ruth
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
You must've been really rolling with him this morning |
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Yes, but no more than usual. I'm surprised it took him this long to use this expression on me.
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Rachel May
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 10:10am | IP Logged
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I hope people will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that in general "being on your soapbox" or being told to "get off your soapbox" has a negative tone. Your husband obviously meant to be funny, but if I were to tell you to get off your soapbox, it would be considered offensive, like I think you are going "blah blah blah" about something that I don't care about/agree with/want to hear. Does anyone else understand it that way?
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chicken lady
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 10:13am | IP Logged
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Tami wrote:
| I (theoretically) step down, I always worry about twisting my ankle. |
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Very funny I think I can own up to that one easy enough!!!
Ruth that is funny you never have heard that expression,,,,I think it a compliment you must not need to be reminded as often as some of us (talking self here)
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Alice R
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 11:23am | IP Logged
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Rachel,
I agree, it can be used in a funny way between friends but can also be used in a negative way. It is another way to say "she won't shut her mouth on that topic and is lecturing us"  It's kinda used in an "eye rolling" manner.
I would not use it with people that you don't know very well or that you wouldn't normally joke around with.
Blessings,
Alice
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Angie Mc
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Alice R wrote:
Rachel,
I agree, it can be used in a funny way between friends but can also be used in a negative way. It is another way to say "she won't shut her mouth on that topic and is lecturing us" It's kinda used in an "eye rolling" manner.
I would not use it with people that you don't know very well or that you wouldn't normally joke around with.
Blessings,
Alice
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Yep...and it can be seen as poking fun at yourself when you say, "I'll get off my soapbox now." In other words, you know that you have really been on an impassioned roll about something and are willing to give someone else the floor. Family members have been known to say here at home, "It's MY turn for the soapbox!"
Love,
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Tami
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 12:21pm | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
Alice R wrote:
Rachel,
I agree, it can be used in a funny way between friends but can also be used in a negative way. It is another way to say "she won't shut her mouth on that topic and is lecturing us" It's kinda used in an "eye rolling" manner.
I would not use it with people that you don't know very well or that you wouldn't normally joke around with.
Blessings,
Alice
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Yep...and it can be seen as poking fun at yourself when you say, "I'll get off my soapbox now." In other words, you know that you have really been on an impassioned roll about something and are willing to give someone else the floor. Family members have been known to say here at home, "It's MY turn for the soapbox!"
Love, |
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That's how I understand it, too, Alice.
And Angie, I usually say the same thing about myself when realizing I'm the ~only~ one talking, at length, on a topic...
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Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)
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Ruth
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 6:51pm | IP Logged
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chicken lady wrote:
Ruth that is funny you never have heard that expression,,,, |
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That's probably because English is my second language, so I don't know many of the sayings here. I have a friend who wanted to buy me the "Idiums Dictionary" because I was always asking her what she meant by her sayings
Rachel May wrote:
Your husband obviously meant to be funny... |
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Yep, he's got quite the sense of humor. He comes up with the funniest things.
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Ruth
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: "Nice soapbox"
