Boxing clever / box clever

Posted by Bruce Kahl on October 20, 2000

In Reply to: Boxing clever / box clever posted by Sophie on October 20, 2000

: I'm a journalist and during my work I frequently seem to end up using the phrase 'boxing clever' or 'box clever' for headlines on stories about boxes of any kind (usually electronic ones that sit on top of TVs and receive cable signals or whatever). But it's just occurred to me that not only do I not know the origin of this phrase, I haven't got the foggiest what it means, either.

BOX CLEVER
To play one's hand shrewdly. To use one's head.