Where did the Phrase " get off the soap box " come from?

Question

Where did the Phrase " get off the soap box " come from?

Answer 1

To understand this, you need to understand "Soap Opera."

Commercials on daytime dramas were (and probably still are) almost exclusively cleaning products, because in the 60's, only housewives were perched in front of their daily dose of General Hospital. (Spare me the sexist aspects of this, it was their target market!) This is how they became known as "Soap Operas."

This is how "Soap Opera" obtained an association with anything overly or ridiculously melodramatic.

So when someone tells you to get off the soap box, they are associating it with melodramatic statements or actions that are unrealistic or contrived, pretty much like anything that goes on in the afternoon soaps. Drama queens. :-)

Answer 2

Years ago when someone spoke in public they would stand on a wooden box - so they could be seen and heard above everybody - and gave a speech about whatever it was they thought was important. The first wooden box was borrowed from the store nearby.  It said "soap" on it. The term is used to tell you when you were talking too much and pushing your point - and it was time to stop - and get off of the soap box. ♥

Answer 3

once upon a time...long long ago, soap boxes were made of wood. and they were much much larger than the sizes we now have in our stores. because of there size and sturdyness,many peeps took to using them to climb up on when they needed to gain the crowds attention. and wha-laa!! the phrase was born!

Answer 4

politicians, salespeople, etc use to stand on soap boxes like a stage to speak to crowds. they were like crates