See Also: punch 2, noun(dictionary)
Punch(encyclopedia)
punch(medicine)
punch(6)(dictionary)
Punch 1,(dictionary)
punch(5)(dictionary)
Punch 2,(dictionary)
punch(4)(dictionary)
punch-up(dictionary)
punch(3)(dictionary)

punch 2, noun (oh)



2 n
[Sense: 1-2, 5-7; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: PUNCH1]
[Sense: 3; Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Perhaps from Hindi p?c 'five'; because there are five things that go into it.]
[Sense: 4; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from puncheon; POUNCE]
[Sense: 8; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Punch character in children's puppet shows, from Punchinello, probably from Italian dialect polecenella 'little chicken']
[C] a quick strong hit made with your fist (=closed hand)
punch in/on
::a punch in the kidneys
::I managed to land a punch on his chin.
::The two men started throwing punches (=trying to hit each other) .
[singular,U] a strong effective way of expressing things that makes people interested
::30 years after it was written, Orton's 'Entertaining Mr Sloane' still packs a punch .
[U and C] a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, water, and usually some alcohol
::a glass of hot punch

[C] a metal tool for cutting holes or for pushing something into a small hole
a one-two punch
two bad events that happen close together
::A meteorite collided with Earth at the same time, delivering a one-two punch to the magnetic field.
not pull any/your punches
to express disapproval or criticism clearly, without trying to hide anything
::The inquiry report doesn't pull any punches in apportioning blame.
beat sb/sth to the punch
informal to do or get something before anyone else does
::Hitachi has beaten its competitors to the punch with its new palmtop.
as pleased as punch
old-fashioned very happy
::He's as pleased as punch about the baby.
-see also pack a (hard) punch at pack 1 (8)