Matt, you can also buy punching bags that stand up, like this one.

SWEET! Thanks ita, I believe the Christmas present that I'll ask my assembled family for has just been decided.

"How come I have to buy you a present? What do I get??" "My hand in marriage. Anyway, I like jewelry!"

At the point where one person believes their just showing up trumps the other person's contributions, the union has bigger problems than differences of opinion on jewelry.

That seems like a very insider-compartmentalization. I would probably look at what you're describing and say "that's a boxer playing dirty pool."

(Is pool so dirty? I know you can hustle pool, but is it even possible to cheat at pool?)

But more notably, what in hell is boxing someone's ears?

Ummm, yeah. I would not want to aim a closed fist at the floppy loose flesh right next to a very hard skull. Because I'd probably miss, and that would hurt.

I think the actual attack upon the ear is an open or semi-open hand. Or else, they ear is figurative, and the attack is really on the side of the head, in which case the choice of an open hand or a fist is the choice of how badly you want to hurt the poor kid being boxed.

(Boxing references, like baseball references, are all over the American English language, whether they make any sense literally or not.)

DeBeers is evil. Stay away.

Ailleann, I couldn't agree with you more.

As I recall, 'boxing' one's ears means to cup both hands and bring them in for a simultaneous clap on both sides of the head. Wicked painful and a really good way to pop an ear drum.

I think I'd rather get a semi-precious ring that has emotional importance (an amethyst that belonged to grandma or something like that) than have the fella in question put a quarter of his year's earnings (!!!) into a piece of jewelry. I'd rather we put that money into a long, luxurious trip to someplace cool. Or, you know, build up the IRA. I think retirement investment says, "With you to the end" better than a hockable rock anyway.

So very THIS.

The whole engagement ring thing is via DeBeers to a pretty amazing extent, so I'm pretty sure this is right.

DeBeers is evil. Stay away.

Both Very True Things. I've read too much about the diamond industry and its history to buy the whole "Diamonds are precious and rare and therefore damn expensive, so pay us more!" thing that DeBeers has going. I'd much rather have a colored stone (rubies and emeralds, especially) that pop rather than sparkle.

'boxing' one's ears means to cup both hands and bring them in for a simultaneous clap on both sides of the head. Wicked painful and a really good way to pop an ear drum.

Hmm. I associate boxing someone's ears as equivalent in disciplinary stakes with a spanking--what you're describing is way harsher.

That seems like a very insider-compartmentalization

Really? You don't think that the minute the "boxer" starts kicking you're not boxing anymore? I mean, there must be a line for you somewhere that makes it not boxing.

Urban Dictionary agrees:
--box your ears
--To strike someone on one or both thier ears with the flat of your palm,this totally destroys thier balance and usually destroys their eardrums if done right.

eta: I love that 'urban' dictionary features incorrect spelling and advocates violence. t /irony

I think diamonds are pretty. I like them a lot, actually. But, like Kathy, I've read too much about the diamond trade to be comfortable with buying a diamond. But if I inherited a family diamond, I'd wear it, or have it re-set.