jack-in-the-box effect
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A specific effect of a catastrophic kill on a tank or other turreted armored vehicle in which an ammunition explosion causes the tank's turret to be violently blown off the chassis and into the air.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “jack-in-the-box effect” mean?
A specific effect of a catastrophic kill on a tank or other turreted armored vehicle in which an ammunition explosion causes the tank's turret to be violently blown off the chassis and into the air.
Is “jack-in-the-box effect” formal or informal?
jack-in-the-box effect is generally slang.