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• sucker-punch
  sucker-punch

  verb (used with object)

  to strike (someone) with an unexpected blow.
• sucker punch
  sucker punch

  noun

  a sudden surprise punch, esp from behind

sucker-punch

American  

[suhk-er-puhnch] / ˈsʌk ərˌpʌntʃ /

verb (used with object)

Slang.

1. to strike (someone) with an unexpected blow.

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sucker punch British  

noun

1. a sudden surprise punch, esp from behind

2. a sudden unexpected defeat or setback

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sucker punch Idioms  

1. An unexpected blow, as in They felt that suddenly raising the interest rate was a sucker punch to the administration. This expression comes from boxing, where it is used for a punch delivered unexpectedly; boxing great Jack Dempsey wrote, “The right lead [for a right-handed boxer] is called a sucker punch.” [Slang; mid-1900s]

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Other Word Forms

• sucker punch
  noun

Example Sentences

Palace had barely stopped celebrating beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley when they were hit with a devastating sucker-punch.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

A movie that often feels dangerously out of control even as it knows exactly what it’s doing, “Bottoms” is an outrageous queer teen comedy that could hit summer audiences like a sucker-punch surprise.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2023

The sucker-punch ending is a head-scratcher and nearly ruins the previous 75 minutes of suspense, so much so that the European ending of the film was changed to make for a more commercial conclusion.

From Washington Times • May 4, 2023

Bryan Mbeumo was guilty of wasting the best of Brentford’s chances and the hosts were hit with a sucker-punch late on as Brighton claimed a third win in four matches to open the league.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2021

It is certainly not a bad song, but the sucker-punch power of earlier singles such as Love Story is noticeably absent.

From The Guardian • Apr. 26, 2019