QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Idioms about punch
- to lessen deliberately the force of one's blows.
- Informal. to act with restraint or hold back the full force or implications of something: He wasn't going to pull any punches when he warned them of what they would be up against.
pull punches,
roll with the punches, Informal. to cope with and survive adversity: In the business world you quickly learn to roll with the punches.
Origin of punch
1First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb pouncen, pounson, punchen “to emboss (metal), pierce, prick,” from Old French poinçoner, poinssonner, ponchonner “to emboss”; see also puncheon2
OTHER WORDS FROM punch
puncher, nounWords nearby punch
puna, Punakha, Punan, Puncak Jaya, punce, punch, Punch-and-Judy show, punchbag, punchball, punchboard, punch bowl
Other definitions for punch (2 of 4)
punch2
[ puhnch ]
/ pʌntʃ /
noun
a tool or machine for perforating or stamping materials, driving nails, etc.
the solid upper die of a punch press, used with a hollow die to blank out shaped pieces of sheet metal or the like.
verb (used with object)
to cut, stamp, pierce, perforate, form, or drive with a tool or machine that punches.
verb (used without object)
to work at or on something with or as if with a mechanical punch.
OTHER WORDS FROM punch
punch·a·ble, adjectiveOther definitions for punch (3 of 4)
punch3
[ puhnch ]
/ pʌntʃ /
noun
a beverage consisting of wine or spirits mixed with fruit juice, soda, water, milk, or the like, and flavored with sugar, spices, etc.
a beverage of two or more fruit juices, sugar, and water, sometimes carbonated.
Origin of punch
3First recorded in 1625–35; of uncertain origin; traditionally derived from Hindi panch “five” (from the number of ingredients), from Sanskrit panca; cf. five
Other definitions for punch (4 of 4)
Punch
[ puhnch ]
/ pʌntʃ /
noun
the chief male character in a Punch-and-Judy show.
Origin of Punch
Short for Punchinello
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use punch in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for punch (1 of 4)
punch1
/ (pʌntʃ) /
verb
to strike blows (at), esp with a clenched fist
(tr) Western US to herd or drive (cattle), esp for a living
(tr) to poke or prod with a stick or similar object
punch above one's weight to do something that is considered to be beyond one's ability
noun
Derived forms of punch
puncher, nounWord Origin for punch
C15: perhaps a variant of pounce ²
British Dictionary definitions for punch (2 of 4)
punch2
/ (pʌntʃ) /
noun
verb
(tr) to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
Word Origin for punch
C14: shortened from puncheon, from Old French ponçon; see puncheon ²
British Dictionary definitions for punch (3 of 4)
punch3
/ (pʌntʃ) /
noun
any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced
Word Origin for punch
C17: perhaps from Hindi pānch, from Sanskrit pañca five; the beverage originally included five ingredients
British Dictionary definitions for punch (4 of 4)
Punch
/ (pʌntʃ) /
noun
the main character in the traditional children's puppet show Punch and Judy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Other Idioms and Phrases with punch
punch
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.