punch in

punch in

1. To do something, such as signing in or stamping a time card, to officially record the beginning of a shift or day of work. A noun, pronoun, or reflexive pronoun can be used between "punch" and "in." We'd like to remind all employees that they will not be paid for any work they've done before they punch in. Sarah's going to be a couple of minutes late, so she asked me to punch her in. I keep forgetting to punch myself in when I get into work.

2. To input data (into something) using a keypad or keyboard. Let me just punch in the code for the alarm before we leave. I've been punching in numbers from the survey into a spreadsheet all morning.

See also: punch

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

punch someone in something

to strike someone in some body part. Tony punched Nick in the side. Why didn't you punch that mean guy in the nose?

See also: punch

punch something in

to crush or smash something in. Who punched the cereal box in? Who punched in the cereal box?

See also: punch

punch in

to record one's arrival at one's workplace at a certain time. What time did you punch in? I punched in at the regular time.

See also: punch

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

punch in

1. Also, punch a or the clock . Check in at a job upon arrival, as in You have to punch in or you won't get paid, or In this office no one has to punch a clock. This usage alludes to the use of a time clock, which has a button an employee punches or strikes to record the time of arrival on a card. [1920s] Also see punch out, def. 1.

2. Keyboard data into a computer, as in He was careful about punching in all the payments. [Mid-1900s]

See also: punch

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

punch in

v.

1. To check in formally at a job upon arrival, especially by stamping the arrival time on a timecard: I punched in ten minutes late this morning and the company fired me.

2. To enter some data on a keypad or similar device: I punched in my access code and I was allowed through the door.

See also: punch

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.