box
n.— «Capt. Corbett Bufton had figured it was going to be just another hot day in the desert. The Charleston-based airman’s C-17 was scheduled to make four stops around Iraq—”the box,” as they call it—to fly in cargo for the troops.» —“C-17 carried flying hospital to bring injured sergeant to U.S.” by Brian Hicks Charlotte Observer (North Carolina) July 15, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Yasha, who grew up speaking Russian, recalls phrase used to comfort a child after a small mishap like a skinned knee. The phrase translates as “It will heal in time for the wedding,” and Yasha had assumed it was solely Slavic. So he was surprised to...
Lee in Charleston, South Carolina, remembers her dad used to refer to a blue patch of sky after a rain as kitten’s britches. Similar terms include Dutchman’s trousers, old woman’s apron, and cat’s vest, all suggesting that small but promising bit of...