punch */

I UK [pʌntʃ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "punch":
present tense I/you/we/they punch he/she/it punches present participle punching past tense punched past participle punched

1) to hit someone or something with your fist (= closed hand), usually as hard as you can

Two men punched him, knocking him to the ground.

She punched her pillow angrily.

2) to press a button or switch

David punched a button on the television.

3) to make a hole in something with a tool or machine

She held out her ticket for the conductor to punch.

•

- punch the air

- punch above your weight

Phrasal verbs:

- punch in

- punch out

- punch up

II UK [pʌntʃ] / US noun
Word forms "punch":
singular punch plural punches

1) [countable] the action of hitting someone or something with your fist (= closed hand)

throw/land a punch:

Bellamy landed a series of good punches.

can/can't take a punch (= is difficult/easy to hurt):

Nichols can't take a punch.

•

Collocations:
Verbs frequently used with punch as the object ▪  deliver, land, pack, pull, swing, take, throw

2) [countable/uncountable] a sweet drink made with fruit juice and usually alcohol

a bowl of fruit punch

3) [uncountable] the emotional power of something such as a performance that affects how people feel

Many British films lack emotional punch.

4) [countable] a tool for making a hole in something

•

(as) pleased as punch — informal extremely pleased about something

not pull any/your punches — to express your feelings and opinions, especially criticism, very clearly

James did not pull any punches in his criticism of our work.

- roll with the punches

See:

pack I