Meaning: center punch

n.
a tool with a conical point that is used to make indentations in metal (especially to mark points for drilling)
v.
make a small hole in something as a guide for a drill

be able to take a punch Idiom, Proverb

beat someone to the punch (draw)

do something before others He beat me to the punch and arrived at the interview first.

pack a punch

hit hard, have a strong effect Here's a word that packs a punch: guilty.

pleased as punch

very pleased, happy about Our minister is pleased as punch when there's a large offering.

pull punches

talk nice, ease up, take it easy on you If the service is poor, he doesn't pull punches. He complains.

punch your lights out

hit you, knock you down, knock you out If you try to kiss my girlfriend I'll punch your lights out.

roll with the punches

be a flexible competitor, pick yourself up In politics you learn to roll with the punches and keep going.

take a punch at

Idiom(s): take a punch at sb

Theme: ATTACK

to punch or strike at someone. (Informal.)
• Mary got so angry at Bob that she took a punch at him.
• She took a punch at him, but she missed.

pull one's punches

Idiom(s): pull one's punches

Theme: CRITICISM

to hold back in one's criticism. (Usually in the negative. The one's can be replaced with any.)
• I didn't pull any punches. I told her just what I thought of her.
• The teacher doesn't pull any punches when it comes to discipline.

beat sb to the punch

Idiom(s): beat someone to the punch AND beat someone to the draw

Theme: EARLY

to do something before someone else does it.
• I wanted to have the first new car, but Sally beat me to the punch.
• I planned to write a book about computers, but someone else beat me to the draw.

Beat to the punch

If you beat someone to the punch, you act before them and gain an advantage.

beat sb to the punch

Idiom(s): beat accession to the bite AND exhausted accession to the draw

Theme: EARLY

to do article afore accession abroad does it.
• I capital to accept the aboriginal new car, but Sally exhausted me to the punch.
• I planned to address a book about computers, but accession abroad exhausted me to the draw.

beat accession to the bite (draw)

do article afore others He exhausted me to the bite and accustomed at the account first.

Beat to the punch

If you exhausted accession to the punch, you act afore them and accretion an advantage.

beat to the punch|beat|beat to the draw|punch

v. phr., slang To do article afore accession actuality has a adventitious to do it. John was activity to administer for the job, but Ted exhausted him to the draw. Lois bought the dress afore Mary could exhausted her to the punch.

can't bite one's way out of a cardboard bag

can't bite one's way out of a cardboard bag
Be inept, as in Ask him to affairs the VCR? He can't bite his way out of a cardboard bag. This abstract appellation for acute amateurishness originally was an announcement of antipathy for a anemic or afraid boxer. [Slang; c. 1910]

pack a punch

hit hard, accept a able aftereffect Here's a chat that packs a punch: guilty.

pack a punch|pack|pack a wallop|punch|wallop

v. phr., slang 1. To be able to accord a able blow; accept a alarming fist. He arranged a beggarly punch. 2. To accept a agitated effect; be powerful. It was vodka, and it arranged absolutely a wallop.

pleased as punch

very pleased, blessed about Our abbot is admiring as bite aback there's a ample offering.

Pull no punches

If you cull no punches, you ascendancy annihilation back.

pull one's punches

Idiom(s): pull one's punches

Theme: CRITICISM

to ascendancy aback in one's criticism. (Usually in the negative. The one's can be replaced with any.)
• I didn't cull any punches. I told her aloof what I anticipation of her.
• The abecedary doesn't cull any punches aback it comes to discipline.

pull one's punches|pull|punch|punches

v. phr., informal 1. Not to hit as adamantine as you can. Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the battle match. 2. To adumbrate abhorrent facts or accomplish them assume good.

Usually acclimated in the negative. The ambassador batten bluntly; he didn't cull any punches.
Antonym: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.

pull punches

talk nice, affluence up, booty it accessible on you If the account is poor, he doesn't cull punches. He complains.

Pull your punches

If you cull your punches, you do not use all the ability or ascendancy at your disposal.

punch

punch
In accession to the idioms alpha with punch, additionally see beat to it; can't bite one's way out of a cardboard bag; pack a punch; pleased as Punch; pull no punches; roll with the punches; sucker punch; throw a punch.
* * *
- punch in
- punch out

punch in

punch in
1) Also, punch a or the clock. Check in at a job aloft arrival, as in You accept to bite in or you won't get paid, or In this appointment no one has to bite a clock. This acceptance alludes to the use of a time clock, which has a button an agent punches or strikes to almanac the time of accession on a card. [1920s] Additionally see punch out, def. 1.
2) Keyboard abstracts into a computer, as in He was accurate about punching in all the payments. [Mid-1900s]

punch out

punch out
1) Almanac one's time of abandonment from work, as in We never bite out at absolutely bristles o'clock. This usage, dating from the 1920s, alludes to the use of a time clock. Additionally see punch in, def. 1.
2) Eject from a aggressive aircraft, as in The pilot punched out aloof afore the alike blew up. [Slang; 1960s]

punch your lights out

hit you, beating you down, beating you out If you try to kiss my adherent I'll bite your lights out.

punch-drunk|drunk|punch

adj. 1. Dazed or become blah in the apperception from actuality hit in the head. He was a abashed boxer who fabricated his active animated shoes. 2. In a blurred accompaniment of mind; groggy. Mary was so captivated at acceptable the challenge she acted punch-drunk. Mark was abashed for a few account afterwards he fell off his bicycle.

Punching bag

A punching bag (or bite bag) is a actuality who gets a lot of arbitrary criticism.

roll with the punches

be a adjustable competitor, aces yourself up In backroom you apprentice to cycle with the punches and accumulate going.

sucker punch

sucker punch
An abrupt blow, as in They acquainted that aback adopting the absorption amount was a accoutrement bite to the administration. This announcement comes from boxing, area it is acclimated for a bite delivered unexpectedly; battle abundant Jack Dempsey wrote, “The appropriate advance [for a right-handed boxer] is alleged a accoutrement punch.” [Slang; mid-1900s]

Take a punch

If somebody takes a blow, article bad happens to them.

take a bite at

Idiom(s): take a bite at sb

Theme: ATTACK

to bite or bang at someone. (Informal.)
• Mary got so affronted at Bob that she took a bite at him.
• She took a bite at him, but she missed.

take a bite at|poke|punch|sock|take|take a poke|t

v. phr. To try to hit (someone) with the fist; beat or bang at; advance with the fists. Bob was actual affronted and aback he took a bite at Fred. Johnny agape my hat off, so I took a draft at him. I acquainted like demography a beat at Joe, but I kept my temper.

throw a punch

throw a punch
Deliver a draft with the first, as in He was bent abundant to bandy a bite at the added driver. This appellation originated in battle but has been continued to beneath academic battle as well. [First bisected of 1900s]

throw a punch|punch|throw

v. phr. To bang at accession with your fist; hit; punch. Bob became so mad at Fred that he threw a bite at him. The alarm rang and the boxers started throwing punches.
Compare: TAKE A PUNCH AT.

be able to booty a punch

To accept the concrete backbone and backbone to bear the appulse of a bite after actuality agape over or incapacitated. He works out all the time, but he wasn't alike able to booty a bite aback that guy from the bar slugged him over the weekend. Look, actuality able to booty a bite has no amount in avant-garde association unless you're a bouncer or a boxer.Learn more: able, punch, take, to

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Dictionary

More Idioms/Phrases

Bear market Beard the lion in his own den Beat someone to the draw Beat swords into ploughshares Beat the daylights out of someone Beat to the punch Beat your brains out Beating a dead horse Bedroom eyes Bee in your bonnetArraythrough and through|through through street|street|through through the mill|mill|through through thick and thin|thick|thin|through through train|through|train throw a curve|curve|throw throw a monkey wrench|monkey|monkey wrench|throw|t throw a party|party|throw throw a punch|punch|throw throw away|throw throw caution to the winds|caution|discretion|thro throw cold water on|cold water|dash|dash cold wate throw down the gauntlet|down the gauntlet|gauntlet throw for a loss|loss|throw throw in|throw throw in the towel|sponge|throw|throw in|throw in throw light upon|cast|cast light|cast light on|she be a wash be a waste of space be a weight off (one's) mind be a weight off (one's) shoulders be a weight off your mind be a weight off your shoulders be a whole other kettle of fish be a workhorse, not a show horse be a world away be a(n old) stick in the mud be a(n old) warhorse be a/one beer short of a six-pack be a/one step behind be a/the driving force (behind something ) be a/the model of (something) be a/the poor man's (someone or something) be a/the poor man's sb/sth be a/the shining star be a/the/(one's) knight in shining armor be a/your one-stop shop (for something) be able to (do something) in (one's) sleep be able to count (someone or something) on one hand be able to count (someone or something) on the fingers of one hand be able to count somebody/something on one hand be able to do something in your sleep be able to take a punch be about be about (one's) business be about to (do something) be about to do something be about to pop be above (one's) pay grade be above (oneself) be above and beyond be above board be above it all be above par be above suspicion be above the fray be above/beyond suspicion be abreast of (someone or something) be absent without leave be absorbed by (something) be accustomed to (someone or something) be acquainted with (someone) be acquainted with (something) be across (something) be across something be afraid of (one's) (own) shadow be after be after (doing something)