jack in the box
/ˈdʒæk ɪn ðə ˈbɑks/
noun
- A children's toy consisting of a box with a crank; when the crank is turned, a clown or puppet pops up suddenly.
- She wound the handle of the jack-in-the-box slowly, waiting for the surprise.
- The toddler laughed every time the jack-in-the-box popped up.
- My grandmother gave me an old jack-in-the-box that still works perfectly.
- Something that appears or happens suddenly and unexpectedly, often in a surprising or startling way.
- The news of the merger was a jack-in-the-box for the employees.
- His temper is like a jack-in-the-box — calm one moment, then exploding without warning.
- The plot twist came like a jack-in-the-box, shocking everyone in the theater.