poor box

American  

noun

1. a box, especially in a church, into which contributions for people in need can be dropped.

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poor box British  

noun

1. a box, esp one in a church, used for the collection of alms or money for the poor

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Etymology

Origin of poor box

First recorded in 1615–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poor box

While Zegler and Disney declined to comment for the piece, the article quotes an anonymous insider who blamed the movie’s poor box office returns on Zegler.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2025

Greenlee said that after three weeks in release, during which F.B.I. agents hounded exhibitors to pull the film, UA withdrew it from circulation, citing poor box office grosses.

From New York Times ● Sep. 18, 2020

With the recent Fantastic Four reboot’s poor box office performance, a lot of people are wondering if superhero fatigue is setting in.

From Time ● Aug. 20, 2015

The play, which runs just 70 minutes, met a quick demise following mostly negative reviews and poor box office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2015

Healed in both body and soul, Pedro Tercero Garcia made his way to the capital with a bundle of clothes and a few coins the priest had taken from the poor box.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende