pull no punches

Idioms

Behave unrestrainedly, hold nothing back, as in The doctor pulled no punches but told us the whole truth. This expression comes from boxing, where to pull one's punches means “to hit less hard than one can.” This idiom, too, has been applied more generally, as in They decided to pull their punches during these delicate negotiations. [First half of 1900s]

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.

His chat should be brief, to the point, informative and honest, and pull no punches.

From Washington Post • May 2, 2023

His irreverent paintings pull no punches, whether he’s exploring contemporary politics or the global legacy of colonialism.

From New York Times • Jan. 22, 2021

In their bare-knuckle approach, these essays descend directly from those of William Hazlitt, who advised his fellow-progressives to pull no punches.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 12, 2019

They pull no punches in their depiction of the strength of feeling among the women who fought for equal rights.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2018

When it comes to lampooning political leaders and world religions, Charlie Hebdo cartoonists pull no punches.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2015

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