punch

v. to hit someone or something with your closed hand.

v. to strike with a closed fist. Transitive, requiring a direct object.

“He got so angry that he punched the wall, which was a mistake.”

“The boxer managed to punch his opponent squarely in the jaw, ending the match in the third round.”

v. to make a hole in something using a tool or a machine.

v. to pierce or create an aperture in a material using a specialized tool or mechanical pressure.

“You need to punch two holes in the paper to put it in the folder.”

“The conductor moved through the carriage to punch the passengers' tickets, leaving a small star-shaped mark on each one.”

v. to press buttons or keys to enter information into a machine.

v. to input data or operate a device by depressing keys or buttons.

“She punched her PIN into the machine to withdraw some cash.”

“The clerk spent the afternoon punching figures into the database to ensure the quarterly reports were accurate.”

v. to date someone who is much more attractive or successful than you are.

v. an ellipsis of the phrase 'punching above one's weight', referring to a romantic partner perceived as being in a higher social or aesthetic tier.

“Everyone says he is punching because his girlfriend is a famous model.”

“His friends jokingly suggested he was punching when he started dating the lead actress from the local theatre troupe.”

British English · Informal · Slang

n. a blow or hit made with a closed hand.

n. a forceful strike delivered with the fist.

“The fight ended after just one powerful punch to the stomach.”

“The protagonist narrowly avoided a punch to the face by ducking behind a heavy wooden table.”

n. a cold drink made by mixing fruit juices and often alcohol, served in a large bowl.

n. a beverage consisting of a mixture of fruit juices and other ingredients, typically prepared in large quantities for social gatherings.

“We served a non-alcoholic fruit punch at the children's birthday party.”

“The host prepared a potent rum punch, garnishing the bowl with fresh slices of lime and orange.”

n. the power or excitement that something has.

n. effective force, vigor, or emotional impact.

“The ending of the movie lacked punch and felt very disappointing.”

“The marketing team felt the new slogan lacked the necessary punch to capture the attention of a younger demographic.”

n. a small tool used for making holes or marks in metal, leather, or paper.

n. a mechanical tool or handheld instrument designed to indent or create holes in a surface.

“He used a leather punch to add an extra hole to his belt.”

“The machinist selected a hardened steel punch to mark the center of the plate before drilling.”

Technical