be punch-drunk

1. Of a boxer, to be disoriented from a particularly heavy punch or too many blows to the head. That boxer was punch-drunk after being knocked out in the ring—he couldn't even remember his name! You could tell the retired fighter was a bit punch-drunk after taking so many hits over the years. It was a rough night for Tanner in the ring—he was punch-drunk pretty early on.

2. To be disoriented from exhaustion. I'm punch-drunk after taking exams all week long. Of course he's punch-drunk—he's been driving for 12 hours straight! Get used to feeling punch-drunk—that's just life with an infant.

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References in periodicals archive

When the overwhelming nature of the Republican victory in the November midterm elections became clear, the nation's most prominent Democratic elected officials seemed to be punch-drunk. President Clinton and his White House minions struggled with little success to come up with a satisfactory explanation, as did most of their Congressional cohorts.

Some [conservative Democrats], to me, appear to be punch-drunk because they're not clear on the fact that DLC members lost--McCurdy in Oklahoma lost, Sasser in Tennessee lost.

Jesse Jackson: 'What progressives must do is keep focusing on the moral center, not the political center.' (Cover Story) (Interview)

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