chest
B1Neutral, used in all registers from casual to formal.
Definition
Meaning
The front part of the human body between the neck and the stomach, containing the heart and lungs.
A large, strong box, typically of wood, used for storage or shipping; also the part of a person's body or an animal containing the heart and lungs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries both a primary anatomical meaning and a common object meaning, both of which are frequent. The anatomical meaning is often used in medical, fitness, and everyday contexts. The 'box' meaning is common in historical, nautical, and storage contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use the word identically for anatomy and storage. 'Chest of drawers' is slightly more common in UK English than 'dresser' for the piece of furniture.
Connotations
Similar in both. 'Chest' can imply strength or emotion (e.g., 'puff out one's chest', 'get it off your chest').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + chest: have a pain in one's chest, puff out one's chest, get something off one's chest[Adjective] + chest: sore chest, broad chest, heavy chest[Preposition] + chest: on the chest, in the chest, across the chestVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get it off your chest”
- “play it close to the chest/vest”
- “puff out your chest”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in logistics (shipping chests) or as a metaphor for secret-keeping ('play cards close to the chest').
Academic
Common in medical/biological contexts (chest cavity, chest X-ray).
Everyday
Very common for body part (chest cold, chest pain) and furniture/storage (toy chest, hope chest).
Technical
Used in medicine (chest tube, chest compression), furniture-making, and maritime contexts (sailor's chest).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic) To place in a chest; to chest up the belongings.
American English
- (Rare/archaic) Same as British.
adjective
British English
- Chest-high (water)
- Chest-mounted (camera)
- Chest-free (rugby)
American English
- Chest-level
- Chest-deep
- Chest-pass (basketball)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He put his hand on his chest.
- The treasure was in an old chest.
- I have a pain in my chest.
- She bought a beautiful wooden chest for blankets.
- After running, my chest was hurting.
- The doctor listened to his chest with a stethoscope.
- The ancient chest, bound with iron straps, had lain undisturbed for centuries.
- He suffered a sharp, stabbing pain in his upper chest.
- She finally got her feelings off her chest during the meeting.
- The politician was known for playing his cards close to his chest during negotiations.
- Archaeologists carefully pried open the silt-filled chest found in the shipwreck.
- A radiograph revealed a shadow on the lower lobe of his right lung within the chest cavity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHEST of drawers where you CHEST (store) your clothes, or put your hand on your CHEST where your heart is.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHEST AS A CONTAINER: For emotions ('a chest full of sorrow'), secrets ('kept close to the chest'), or valuables ('treasure chest'). CHEST AS A SYMBOL OF CHARACTER: A 'broad chest' signifies strength; a 'hairy chest' signifies masculinity.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'грудная клетка' as 'chest cell'; the correct term is 'ribcage' or simply 'chest'.
- The furniture item 'сундук' is a 'chest' or 'trunk', not a 'box'.
- 'Комод' is usually a 'chest of drawers' or 'dresser', not just 'chest'.
- Do not confuse 'chest' with 'box'; a chest is typically larger and sturdier, often with a hinged lid.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'pain on my chest' instead of 'pain *in* my chest'.
- Using 'chest' for all torso pain, when 'stomach' or 'abdomen' might be correct.
- Pronouncing it as /tʃɪst/ instead of /tʃɛst/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chest' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely and archaically. In modern English, it is almost exclusively a noun.
A chest is typically larger, sturdier, and often has a hinged lid. It is associated with storage of valuables, clothes, or historical items. A box is a more general term for any rectangular container.
No. It refers to the thoracic area of all humans. However, in casual conversation, it is sometimes used to distinguish from 'breasts' when referring to women, though 'chest' is the anatomically correct term for everyone.
It means to be secretive or cautious about your plans or intentions, not revealing them to others. It originates from card games like poker, where players hold their cards close to their chest to prevent others from seeing them.
Collections
Part of a collection
Body and Health
A1 · 49 words · Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary.