Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

punch-up

American  
[puhnch-uhp] / ˈpʌntʃˌʌp /

noun

Slang.
  1. punch-out.


punch-up British  

noun

  1. informal a fight, brawl, or violent argument

"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 punch-up

1955–60; noun use of verb phrase punch ( it ) up


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.

See Examples For:

Though discouraged when a pitched sketch failed, his punch-up jokes successfully made it to air.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

McCann is an entirely different story and the explanation for his punch-up wasn’t quite as compelling.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2022

One of the boxers, Dan Canning, later reflected on what it was like at Chapel Fields: "Anybody who fought for Ma had to be as tough as boot leather, and love a good punch-up."

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2021

After the Game One punch-up, I sat out the rest of the series.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 4, 2019

But he has also come under fire for an apparent delay in informing JSA officials about last month’s punch-up.

From Reuters ● Nov. 21, 2017

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training