Christmas present

English

Etymology 1

Christmas +‎ present (“gift”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɪsməs ˌpɹɛzənt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

Christmas present (countable and uncountable, plural Christmas presents)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Christmas,‎ present.

   Children believe that Santa Claus comes down the chimney to bring them Christmas presents.

Etymology 2

Christmas + present (“relating to now, current”). Present is used as a postpositioned adjective. First popularized in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌkɹɪsməs ˈpɹɛzənt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

Christmas present (countable and uncountable, plural Christmases present)

1. A contemporary Christmas.
   • 1998 May 15, Janet Colsher Teitsort, Long-Distance Grandma: How to Stay Connected with Grandkids Far Away, Baker, →ISBN, page 145:

     Christmas past becomes Christmas present.

   • 2012 May 3, Stella Duffy, chapter 13, in Wavewalker, Profile Books, →ISBN, section 5:

     Anita had been relieved to unload the burden of her Christmases Past following her Process but she certainly hasn't told Max any of the details of the Christmases present she'd be spending with John.

Derived terms

• Ghost of Christmas Present

Related terms

• Christmas past
• Christmas future