What does “soapbox-ready” mean?

Question

I found the words “soapbox-ready” in the following sentence of the New York Times’ (March 11) theater review of currently-playing Broadway show, “Death of a Salesman,” titled “American Dreamer, Ambushed by the Territory”:

“This is not a woman who has been worn down by cares; she’s a vigilant, fire-breathing watchdog of her husband’s ego. And when she erupts into anger with her grown sons, it’s as if that speech had been soapbox-ready for ages.”

From the combination of the words, I guess the word, ‘soapbox-ready’ here means something like “well rehearsed or practiced” to be ready for making a speech, or talk.

However, as I checked the meaning of “soapbox-ready” on Google to make it certain, I came across quite different usages from the above interpretation:

• Delcam software leads to soapbox success. Using PowerMILL and PowerSHAPE speeded manufacturing. The finished soapbox ready to race. - www.automotivecadcam.com/

• International AVEW Stock Message: Town Crier getting his bell and Soapbox ready!! - investorshub.advfn.com/

What does “soapbox-ready” exactly mean?

Answer 1

Literally, a soapbox is just a (usually wooden) packing case for soap. But from Merriam-Webster

soapbox: an improvised platform used by a self-appointed, spontaneous, or informal orator; broadly, something that provides an outlet for delivering opinions

Here are some written instances of "[get on a] soapbox about it". As often as not people use it in the negative ("I don't want to get on a soapbox about it" means "I don't want to make a big speech"). It's a fairly common figurative expression on both sides of the Atlantic.

The fact that the definition mentions an improvised platform doesn't always imply that the person delivering their opinions has only just thought of whatever they're saying. There are people who go to Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park London, year after year, delivering the same rants. Obviously they gradually refine their words based on how much support they get for different versions. But even a person who's never spoken there before would probably spend some time working out how best to put across what he wants to say.

So if this woman's vocal anger towards her sons sounded "soapbox-ready", it means she seemed to have her words carefully planned in advance, in order to have the most effect. Which is unusual, since normally when people erupt in anger their words are spontaneous, not prepared.

Answer 2

As noted in previous answer, a speech being "soapbox-ready" means it's ready to deliver. While the Soapbox article in wikipedia refers several times to impromptu speeches, it also mentions a number of cases where speeches are given repeatedly. Use of the term in the review is intended to add interest and color, even if the metaphor is imperfect.

In the other two instances mentioned in the question, one ("Town Crier getting his bell and Soapbox ready") refers to the most-usual sense, speaking or haranguing in public; the other refers to small unpowered race-cars, as illustrated in wikipedia's Soap Box Derby article. Some 1930's entries were made from wooden orange crates and presumably from wooden soap boxes as well. The Delcam vehicle is mostly of carbon-fibre construction.