A "check-in-the-box" and is an action or mandate that a group or authority takes when it doesn't want to be liable for something, so they put on an act that everyone secretly knows is functionally meaningless but has enough good intention so that criticism is often viciously attacked. In the end, if a worst-case scenario presents itself, the group or authority in question can claim they took all the possible precautions they had at their disposal and are not liable for damages while exclaiming how sorry they are things didn't happen as they would have liked. This usually leads to calls for more feel-good protocols and additional checks-in-the-box actions, and if the group or authorities' performance is good enough can even lead to the group or authority being lauded for their benevolence, all the while the people forgetting it was the original check-in-the-box that might have caused the crisis.
Person A: Do you think installing a sign warning people that there is no lifeguard on duty will help prevent drowning?
Person B: (Being honest) Of course not, but it's a check-in-the-box, so we won't be responsible if anything else does happen.
Person A: You're so cynical.
Person B: (Being honest) Of course not, but it's a check-in-the-box, so we won't be responsible if anything else does happen.
Person A: You're so cynical.
by LaughingGhost February 23, 2021
Get the Check-in-the-Box mug.The term used to describe the monotonous, rigorous, stab-your-eye-with-a-pencil military process of completing useless routine activities to be rewarded with a check mark on a piece of paper.
"Yeah! In-clearance took 2 days and I filled out the same form 8 times, but at least I got my check in the box for another year!"
by JWatts17 August 13, 2012
Get the Check in the Box mug.Related Words
A person who achieves a desired position due to one or more nonjob competency related criteria. The organization may deem that the criteria helps their public or other social favorability. I.E. the candidate "checks the box". This term and related policy has become more frequently used in politics and in very large public or private companies, to not infrequent embarrassing ends, since a more competent applicant would have been overlooked in favor of a box checker.
The public affairs spokesperson frequently misspeaks and typically does not have answers for easy questions. It looks like they were hired a a box checker for their position.
by Blood Alpha January 14, 2023
Get the Box Checker mug.A term used to describe how shows/movies make sure to have a variety of characters in their cast, often at the expense of realism. The list of boxes that need to be checked off normally includes people of different races, religions, sexual orientation, etc that are made sure to be included in hopes of reaching a broader audience. This tendency is normally used to appeal to the left by including gays, people of color, and other minorities so as not to appear biased towards straight whites, which dominated media culture in previous decades. However it's not uncommon to appeal to the right as well by including characters that are more conservative, white, and more adherent to the previous standards. The point being that all of the boxes need to be checked in order for a modern show to be aired, often resulting in a hilarious lineup/combination of characters that would normally not be seen together in real life.
"Have you seen that new TV show on Fox?" Sam asked Jenny.
"Ugh, no way, to much box checking. We're just expected to believe that a white redneck and a black rap star are best friends living with a gay Chinese couple in the middle of Salt Lake City?" Jenny replied.
"Ugh, no way, to much box checking. We're just expected to believe that a white redneck and a black rap star are best friends living with a gay Chinese couple in the middle of Salt Lake City?" Jenny replied.
by anonymous January 6, 2021
Get the Box Checking mug.Someone who checks all the boxes to be pretty but, when you put it all together, it doesn't really work. From far away they're really pretty but, the closer up you get, you're able to see the flaws in their artificial beauty. All their attractiveness is fake, so it's not actually pretty.
The box checker is known to have weekly appointments at the tanning salon, dye their hair the lightest shade of bleach blonde, own every push-up bra from Victoria's Secret, and have long fake nails. Is a frequent user of both the Facetune app and the crown Snapchat filter. The most extreme box checkers have used plastic surgery to change that A-cup to a DD, which surprised literally no one.
Box checkers are typically very open sexually and, to your dismay, have hooked up with your biggest crush, older brother, and hot third cousin. But even though they've hooked up with all these people, they are ALWAYS single because who would want to date the girl with fake boobs and chlamydia. While they never have a problem going home with someone, they are all understood as "undatable."
The box checker is known to have weekly appointments at the tanning salon, dye their hair the lightest shade of bleach blonde, own every push-up bra from Victoria's Secret, and have long fake nails. Is a frequent user of both the Facetune app and the crown Snapchat filter. The most extreme box checkers have used plastic surgery to change that A-cup to a DD, which surprised literally no one.
Box checkers are typically very open sexually and, to your dismay, have hooked up with your biggest crush, older brother, and hot third cousin. But even though they've hooked up with all these people, they are ALWAYS single because who would want to date the girl with fake boobs and chlamydia. While they never have a problem going home with someone, they are all understood as "undatable."
Nate: I think Brittany's kind of pretty but something's off.
Lisa: Oh my god she's such a box checker. Her makeup is so caked on and her tan is totally fake. Also no way that's her natural hair color.
Lisa: Oh my god she's such a box checker. Her makeup is so caked on and her tan is totally fake. Also no way that's her natural hair color.
by highschoolhero November 13, 2017
Get the box checker mug.by Checker box May 7, 2018
Get the checker box mug.A cool king who oftenly gets noticed by the people they look up to. Oftenly simped for from a feature of their body or voice.
by Silious€ August 18, 2021
Get the checker_box mug.