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Synonyms

biff

1 American  
[bif] / bɪf /

noun

  1. a blow; punch.

verb (used with object)

  1. to hit; punch.

biff 2 American  
[bif] / bɪf /

noun

  1. biffy.

biff British  
/ bɪf /

noun

  1. a blow with the fist

  2. slang:school a blow to the palm of the hand with a strap or cane as a punishment

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to give (someone) such a blow

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of biff

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the first point: MoviePass’ old management did indeed biff it spectacularly.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2023

Will they play a defensive block or risk potential humiliation by trying to biff one over the boundary?

From The Guardian • Mar. 7, 2019

They could biff three and still embarrass the rest of the world.

From Slate • Aug. 12, 2016

No dice for the Swiss. 30-15 and Del Potro has enough biff in his groundstrokes to outmuscle Federer from the baseline.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2012

I climbed up th' fire-escape in th' alley an' got a nice biff on th' coco for me pains.

From The Voice in the Fog by MacGrath, Harold

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.