police box

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "police box" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a small, typically blue box used by police officers for communication or as a temporary office. Example: The suspect was spotted near the police box on Main Street.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Why a police box?

The New Yorker

And a whizzing blue police box.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He enters an abandoned warehouse; he finds a police box.

The New Yorker

The other is about a flying police box".

The Guardian

Bizarrely, a window had fallen out of the police box and hit him on the back.

Independent

I remember touching it … the police box … and I got a little bit teary.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Doctor wants to head back to the safety of his police box and leave this Neolithic casualty to die.

Independent

Alas, that circuit broke, leaving the machine stuck, famously, in the shape of a nineteen-sixties-era London police box).

The New Yorker

That's how the Tardis got stuck as a police box, but it doesn't explain why it started out that way.

The New Yorker

Following her home after school, Barbara and Ian discover that Susan lives with her grandfather inside the police box.

The New Yorker

He managed to sleep in a cramped police box, curled up but still squashed between its sides.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add precision, specify its functionality: is it for phone calls, reporting incidents, or community outreach?

Common error

Avoid using "police box" interchangeably with modern police facilities. A "police box" is a historical artifact in many regions, distinct from contemporary police stations or substations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police box" functions primarily as a noun phrase, specifically a compound noun, identifying a physical structure. It serves to name a specific type of public call box used by police, as seen in Ludwig examples, referencing both real-world instances and its cultural association.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "police box" is a common noun phrase referring to a historical public call box for contacting the police, predominantly in the UK. Ludwig AI indicates that its use is grammatically correct and frequent, primarily in news and media contexts. While its practical use has diminished, its cultural significance, particularly through Doctor Who, keeps the phrase alive. Alternatives like "police call box" offer more descriptive options, but "police box" remains the most recognizable and widely used term for this specific structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

police call box

This alternative is a more descriptive synonym emphasizing the box's function as a communication point.

police telephone box

This alternative specifies the type of communication equipment housed within the box.

police kiosk

This alternative uses a more modern term for a small, standalone structure serving a specific purpose.

TARDIS

This alternative alludes specifically to the fictional time machine from Doctor Who, which is disguised as a police box.

koban

This is a Japanese term for a small community police station, similar in function to a police box.

blue box

This alternative references the typical color associated with police boxes, especially in the UK.

emergency call box

This alternative broadens the function to include any type of emergency communication, not just police related.

police outpost

This alternative suggests a more permanent and strategically positioned police presence.

public call box

This alternative broadens the scope to any call box that can be used by the public and can be installed by any kind of authority.

police reporting station

This alternative highlights the function of the structure as a place to report incidents.

FAQs

What is the historical significance of a "police box"?

A "police box" was a public telephone kiosk for contacting the police, prevalent in the UK. While largely obsolete, it represents a historical method of community policing and emergency communication.

How is a "police box" different from a modern police station?

A "police box" was a small, standalone structure for basic communication, while a modern police station is a larger facility with broader capabilities, including offices, holding cells, and advanced technology.

Is the term "police box" still in use today?

The term "police box" is primarily used in a historical context or when referring to the Doctor Who TARDIS. Modern equivalents are more likely to be called police kiosks or community police stations.

What is the connection between the "police box" and Doctor Who?

In the British science fiction program Doctor Who, the Doctor's time machine, the TARDIS, is famously disguised as a blue British "police box", leading to a strong association between the two.