safety deposit box

Meaning

A secure, lockable container—typically located inside a hotel room closet or at the front desk—where guests can safely store valuable items like passports, cash, jewelry, and electronics.

Examples

• I put my passport and extra cash in the safety deposit box as soon as I checked in.

  I put my passport and extra cash in the safety deposit box as soon as I checked in.

• Does this hotel room have a safety deposit box?

  Does this hotel room have a safety deposit box?

• You should lock your expensive camera in the safety deposit box when you go to the beach.

  You should lock your expensive camera in the safety deposit box when you go to the beach.

• I forgot the code to my safety deposit box and had to call hotel maintenance.

  I forgot the code to my safety deposit box and had to call hotel maintenance.

• It is much safer to keep your jewelry in the safety deposit box than in your suitcase.

  It is much safer to keep your jewelry in the safety deposit box than in your suitcase.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I put my money in the safe box of the hotel.

  ✓ I put my money in the safety deposit box.

  While 'safe' or 'hotel safe' is common, 'safe box' is a literal translation error from other languages. Use 'safety deposit box' or 'safe'.

• ✗ The safety deposit box was too small to fit my big suitcase.

  ✓ The safety deposit box was too small to fit my laptop.

  A safety deposit box is designed for small valuables (passports, cash, jewelry), not large luggage.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Make sure to lock your passport in the ___ before leaving the hotel room.

  💡 A secure container for small valuables.

  Show answer

  safety deposit box

• The front desk told me there is a ___ available in every room.

  💡 A lockable safe.

  Show answer

  safety deposit box