What is a soap box?

Literally a wooden box that soap was packaged in many years ago. But it was a light transportable strong box and so was used to stand on - and because people on the street (and famously at Soap Box Corner in Hyde Park, London) would stand on one to preach, do trade or talk about anything , the phrase 'get on your soapbox' means these days to speak out about something you have an opinion on, especially when you think you are knowledgable about something, or angry even. An FYI answer from alcyone Another one you might have heard in American politics is the term "stumping". A candidate for office in early times would stand on the stumps of trees so they could be seen and heard better. Thus we hear how candidates are out stumping in Iowa this week. Soap boxes were more easily moved than stumps. ;-)