soapbox

noun

1. (literally)A crate for packing soap.
2. A small platform, being or resembling a literal soapbox, on which a person stands in order to give an impromptu speech or espouse his or her views.

   “The madman obtained a soapbox which he stood on at the corner of Broadway and Wall street, to shout out his prophecy of the end of the world.”

   “The one image which the word “Socialist” brought to Jurgis was of poor little Tamoszius Kuszleika, who had called himself one, and would go out with a couple of other men and a soap-box, and shout himself hoarse on a street corner Saturday nights.”

3. (figuratively, often, pejorative)A platform or outlet, such as a media platform, that a person uses to express his or her opinions.

   “The politician used Twitter as his soapbox.”

   “Please stop using council meetings as your own personal soapbox.”

   “Bernhard's last appearance on a late-night talk show was a handy soapbox to expound on his political message of patriotism, nationalism, and populism.”

4. (derogatory, especially)A figurative means of talking repeatedly or at length about one's opinions on one's pet topic.

   “He's been on his soapbox all day about the new football coach.”

5. (broadly, derogatory, especially)A figurative means of talking repeatedly or at length about one's opinions on one's pet topic.

   “His soapbox is the lack of public toilets in the city.”

6. A soapbox car.

verb

1. To give a speech from (or as if from) a soapbox.

   “He soapboxed for whales and pressed us to write petitions and demonstrate with him—he as the leader, we as followers.”

   “[…] and various members soapboxed in Hyde Park on Sunday.”