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
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
The fear that Pascal might weather the storm has Du Vernay, Oprah Winfrey, and other Hollywood elites pulling their punches.
“The punches and kicks eventually knocked me unconscious and left me completely unresponsive,” Singh explained.
As 30-Year Anniversary of Mass Killings in India Arrives, Sikhs Find Safety in USA | Simran Jeet Singh | October 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTShe starred in one of my favorite movies, LONE STAR… RICHARD PLEPLER punches in the HBO GO “launch codes”.
Oh Yes, He’s The Great Connector: Jason Hirschhorn’s Expertly Curated World | Lloyd Grove | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNo doubt Smith hopes to paint Glock as a monster once again, and the theatrical complaint pulls no punches.
As night descends mortar or artillery fire episodically punches the air.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines | Jamie Dettmer | August 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Dufresne tells me that it would not be a bad idea for me to give evening parties, punches, with a violin and an cart table.
Brother Jacques (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume XVII) | Charles Paul de KockBut Yellow Elk urged her along by several punches in the ribs, and in a moment more the danger of discovery just then was past.
The Boy Land Boomer | Ralph BonehillThe punches mentioned may be obtained of the manufacturers of such instruments at from $2 to $3.
Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects | C. V. RileyI luffs up alongside o' this dry land bo'sum an' punches once.
Captain Scraggs | Peter B. KyneCallahan floored Jackson and went for Joe, who met him with straight, stiff punches which surprised the redoubtable Mike.
The Boss of Wind River | David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
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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