n.
a return punch (especially by a boxer)

telegraph punches Idiom, Proverb

pull punches

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

roll with the punches

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

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.

Pull no punches

If you pull no punches, you hold nothing back.

Pull your punches

If you pull your punches, you do not use all the power or authority at your disposal.

pull one's punches|pull|punch|punches

v. phr., informal 1. Not to hit as hard as you can. Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match. 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good.

Usually used in the negative. The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any punches.
Antonym: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.

telegraph (one's) punches

1. To accomplish a bright but accidental concrete adumbration of where, when, and how one is activity to bandy a punch. You've got to stop telegraphing your punches like that, or you're not activity to accomplish it actual far in the battle world. The guy went to booty a beat at me, but he telegraphed his bite and I was able to avoid out of the way.2. By extension, to do article that accidentally makes it accessible what one's intentions are or abutting move will be. I was a little afraid about the interview, but the being administering it telegraphed their punches, so I was able to acknowledgment aggregate appealing easily. The agent has been telegraphing his punches throughout this absolute campaign.Learn more: punch, telegraph

telegraph one's punches

1. Fig. to signal, unintentionally, what assault one is about to strike. (Boxing.) Wilbur acclimated to telegraph his punches until his trainer formed with him. Don't telegraph your punches, kid! You'll be collapsed on your aback in twenty seconds.
2. Fig. to signal, unintentionally, one's intentions. When you go in there to negotiate, don't telegraph your punches. Don't let them see that we're in charge of this contract. The advocate telegraphed his punches, and we were able with a able counterargument.Learn more: punch, telegraph

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More Idioms/Phrases

public-address system|address|public|public-addres puffed up|puff up|puffed pull a fast one|pull pull date|date|pull pull down|pull pull off|pull pull one's chestnuts out of the fire|chestnut|ches pull one's leg|leg|pull pull one's punches|pull|punch|punches pull one's teeth|pull|teeth|tooth pull one's weight|pull|weight pull oneself together|pull|together pull oneself up by the bootstraps|bootstrap|bootst pull out|pull pull out of a hat|hat|pull pull over|pull pull rank|pull|rank teenie-weenie teensy teensy-weensie teensy-weensy teeny teenybopper teeny-weenie teeny-weeny teepee Tees tee-tee teeter teeter on the brink teeter on the brink of (something) teeter on the brink/edge of something teeter on the edge of (something) teeth teething teething problems teething troubles tele telegraph telegraph (one's) punches telegraph one’s punches telegraph one's punches telegraph punches telephone telephone in telephone into (some place) telephone tag telescope into television tell tell (one) about (someone or something) tell (one) point-blank tell (one) to (one's) face tell (one) what (one) can do with (something) tell (one) where to get off tell (one) where to put it tell (one) where to shove it tell (one) where to stick it tell (someone or something) apart tell (someone or something) by (something) tell (someone or something) from (someone or something else) tell (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something) tell (someone) what's what tell (someone's) fortune tell (something) to (one) tell a (little) white lie tell a different story tell a different tale