shadow box

noun

1. a shallow, rectangular frame fronted with a glass panel, used to show and at the same time protect items on display, as paintings, coins, or jewelry.

shadow-box

verb

1. boxing to practise blows and footwork against an imaginary opponent
2. to act or speak unconvincingly, without saying what one means, etc

   he's just shadow-boxing

Derived Forms

• ˈshadow-ˌboxing, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shadow box¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The big stones formed a sort of shadow box, causing the markings to appear in bold relief.

From Project Gutenberg

One day we took the board out and had it framed under glass, with a double, deep-shadow box.

From Project Gutenberg