punch
1to give a sharp thrust or blow to, especially with the fist.
Western U.S. and Western Canada. to drive (cattle).
to poke or prod, as with a stick.
Informal. to deliver (lines in a play, a musical passage, or the like) with vigor.
to strike or hit in operating: She punched the elevator button and waited for the doors to open.
to put into operation with or as if with a blow: I punched the time clock at that factory every morning and evening for 35 years.
Baseball. to hit (the ball) with a short, chopping motion rather than with a full swing: He punched a soft liner just over third base for a base hit.
to give a sharp blow to a person or thing, as with the fist: The boxer punches well.
punch away, Informal. to keep trying or working, especially in difficult or discouraging circumstances; persevere: How long have you been punching away at the same old job?
punch in,
to record one's time of arrival at work by punching a time clock.
to keyboard (information) into a computer: I was punching in the inventory figures when the system crashed.
punch out,
to record one's time of departure from work by punching a time clock.
Slang. to beat up or knock out with the fists.
to extract (information) from a computer by the use of a keyboard: This function lets you quickly punch out a report when sales audit time comes along.
to bail out; eject from an aircraft.
punch up,
to call up (information) on a computer by the use of a keyboard: She punched up a list of hotel reservations.
Informal. to enliven, as with fresh ideas or additional material: You'd better punch up that speech with a few jokes.
Idioms about punch
pull punches,
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.
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
1Other words for punch
Other words from punch
- puncher, noun
Words Nearby punch
Other definitions for punch (2 of 4)
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.
to cut, stamp, pierce, perforate, form, or drive with a tool or machine that punches.
to work at or on something with or as if with a mechanical punch.
Origin of punch
2Other words from punch
- punch·a·ble, adjective
Other definitions for punch (3 of 4)
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
3Other definitions for Punch (4 of 4)
the chief male character in a Punch-and-Judy show.
Origin of Punch
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use punch in a sentence
Indeed, adds Ives, the S&P snub is “a gut punch to the bulls.”
Here’s one possible reason why Tesla wasn’t added to the S&P 500 | Anne Sraders | September 8, 2020 | FortuneThis started as a notch-shaped cutout, and companies have lately worked that down to a single circle that looks like someone took a hole punch tool to the display.
Xiaomi’s “third-generation” under-display camera looks nearly invisible | Ron Amadeo | August 28, 2020 | Ars TechnicaThe coronavirus hit the fashion industry with a tough combination of punches.
‘The Italians are back’: Fashion advertising roars back to life for publishers | Max Willens | July 22, 2020 | DigidayInsects pack a nutritional punch, in part because they’re full of protein.
Cameron pulls few punches in his descriptions of world leaders — Vladimir Putin, for instance.
Like Mike Tyson says, you have a great fight plan until you come out and take the first punch.
“Ordinarily, you see punch-counterpunch-punch,” as the attacked party tries to fend off the intruder, the former official said.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea | Shane Harris, Tim Mak | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“You might as well punch yourself in the face,” he says when asked if he read about any of the controversy.
New ‘Late Late Show’ Host James Corden Would Like to Manage Your Expectations | Kevin Fallon | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd while all he says he has spoken to still believe the interrogations saved lives, he said the report was a punch in the gut.
CIA Interrogation Chief: ‘Rectal Feeding,’ Broken Limbs Are News to Me | Kimberly Dozier | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA squad soon arrived to take him away, and I saw the sergeant punch him in the face even though he went quietly.
Never had punch secured the telling of that tale with so little opposition.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard KiplingBut punch was five; and he knew that going to England would be much nicer than a trip to Nassick.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard Kiplingpunch scratched himself in his sleep, and Judy moaned a little.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard KiplingAt the end of the first day punch demanded to be set down in England, which he was certain must be close at hand.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard Kipling"Yes," said punch, lifted up in his father's arms to wave good-bye.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II | Rudyard Kipling
British Dictionary definitions for punch (1 of 4)
/ (pʌntʃ) /
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
a blow with the fist
informal telling force, point, or vigour: his arguments lacked punch
pull one's punches See pull (def. 26)
Origin of punch
1Derived forms of punch
- puncher, noun
British Dictionary definitions for punch (2 of 4)
/ (pʌntʃ) /
a tool or machine for piercing holes in a material
any of various tools used for knocking a bolt, rivet, etc, out of a hole
a tool or machine used for stamping a design on something or shaping it by impact
the solid die of a punching machine for cutting, stamping, or shaping material
computing a device, such as a card punch or tape punch, used for making holes in a card or paper tape
See centre punch
(tr) to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
Origin of punch
2British Dictionary definitions for punch (3 of 4)
/ (pʌntʃ) /
any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced
Origin of punch
3British Dictionary definitions for Punch (4 of 4)
/ (pʌntʃ) /
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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with punch
In addition to the idioms beginning with punch
- punch in
- punch out
also see:
- beat to it (the punch)
- can't punch one's way out of a paper bag
- pack a punch
- pleased as punch
- pull no punches
- roll with the punches
- sucker punch
- throw a punch
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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