biff
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
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a blow with the fist
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slang:school a blow to the palm of the hand with a strap or cane as a punishment
verb
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
Lees walked down the track to Mohammed Shami in the second over of the innings and later greeted the spin of Ravindra Jadeja with a biff down the ground followed by a reverse sweep.
From BBC • Jul. 4, 2022
They could biff three and still embarrass the rest of the world.
From Slate • Aug. 12, 2016
Bit by bit – or rather biff by biff – they are dragging themselves back in this game.
From The Guardian • Dec. 8, 2012
There was a legend that it had a habit of barking whenever the mailman came, but the author of biff says this is not true.
From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.
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.
