punch (redirected from punches the clock)

*pleased as Punch

delighted; very pleased. (*Also: as ~.) (This refers to Punch from the "Punch and Judy" shows.) Child: Do you think Grandma will like the picture I'm making for her? Father: I think she'll be as pleased as Punch. Fred was pleased as Punch to discover that Ellen was making lemon pie, his favorite, for dessert.

See also: please

beat someone to the punch and beat someone to the draw

Fig. to do something before someone else does it. I wanted to have the new car, but Sally beat me to the punch. I planned to write a book about using the new software program, but someone else beat me to the draw.

See also: beat

get one's ticket punched

Sl. to die; to be killed. (Literally, to be cancelled.) Poor Chuck got his ticket punched while he was waiting for a bus. Watch out there, or you'll get your ticket punched.

See also: get, ticket

pack a wallop and pack a punch

Fig. to provide a burst of energy, power, or excitement. Wow, this spicy food really packs a wallop. I put a special kind of gasoline in my car because I thought it would pack a punch. It didn't.

See also: pack

pull one's punches 

1. [for a boxer] to strike with light blows to enable the other boxer to win. Bill has been barred from the boxing ring for pulling his punches. "I never pulled punches in my life!" cried Tom.

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

See also: pull

punch someone's lights out

Sl. to knock someone out with a fist. You had better stop that, or I will punch your lights out! Do you want me to punch your lights out?

See also: lights, out

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?

punch someone on something

to strike someone on some body part, typically the shoulder. (Not with the intention of causing harm.) Sally punched Frank on the shoulder just to show they were still friends. Tom punched Fred on the shoulder in a friendly way.

punch someone out

Sl. to overcome or beat someone by punching. He threatened to punch me out. The thug punched out the cop and ran down an alley.

See also: out

punch something down

to press something down. Punch this lever down and then try to place your telephone call. Punch down this lever and push this button.

punch something in

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

punch something into something

to stick or press something into something. She punched her finger into the cake and ruined my lovely icing job. He finally punched a spoon into the cereal box to get it open.

punch something out of something and punch something out

to press on something and make it pop out of something. She punched the perforated stickers out ofthe page and stuck them onto her schoolbooks. Jane punched out the stickers.

See also: out

punch something up

to register a figure on a cash register or calculator. Jake punched the total up, and the register drawer opened. He punched up the total too carelessly.

See also: up

punch a hole in something

to make a hole in something with something. John punched a hole in the wall with his fist. Mary punched a hole in the paper with her pencil.

See also: hole

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.

punch out

to record that one has left one's workplace at a certain time. Why didn't you punch out when you left last night? I punched out at the regular time.

See also: out

roll with the punches

Fig. to absorb the force of a blow, as in boxing. You have to learn to roll with the punches. Accept what is dealt to you. Paul could never roll with the punches. He always had to get even.

See also: roll

take a jab at someone and take a punch at someone 

1. to hit at someone; to poke someone. Max took a jab at Lefty and missed. Lefty took a punch at Max.

2. Go to take a dig at someone.

See also: jab, take

telegraph one's punches 

1. Fig. to signal, unintentionally, what blows one is about to strike. (Boxing.) Wilbur used to telegraph his punches until his trainer worked with him. Don't telegraph your punches, kid! You'll be flat on your back 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 need of this contract. The mediator telegraphed his punches, and we were prepared with a strong counterargument.

See also: telegraph

throw a punch

to jab; to punch. She tried to throw a punch at me, but I blocked it. Wilbur threw a punch at the thug.

See also: throw

---

not pull any punches

to speak in an honest way without trying to be kind This man doesn't pull any punches. I wouldn't like to get into an argument with him

See also: any, pull

a one-two punch  (American)

two unpleasant things which happen together The weather delivered a one-two punch to gardeners with unseasonal freezing temperatures and strong winds.

be as pleased as Punch  (old-fashioned)

to be very happy about something

Usage notes: Punch is a character in a traditional children's entertainment who is always happy and excited.

'How does Stella feel about becoming a granny?' 'She's as pleased as Punch.'

See also: please

be punch-drunk

to feel very tired and confused, especially after dealing with a difficult situation

Usage notes: If a boxer (= man who fights as a sport) is punch-drunk, his brain is damaged because he has been hit on the head too much or too hard.

Social workers are punch-drunk from the criticism they have received in recent months.

beat somebody to the punch  (American)

to do something before someone else does it I was thinking of applying for that job but Carol beat me to the punch.

See also: beat

pack a punch  (informal)

if someone can pack a punch, they can hit very hard when they are fighting He's a big guy - I should imagine he can pack a fair punch.

See also: pack

punch somebody's lights out  (informal)

to hit someone hard again and again He wouldn't shut up so I punched his lights out.

See beat to the punch, pack a punch

See also: lights, out

roll with the punches  (American & Australian)

to be able to deal well with difficulties or criticism The poor woman has been jeered at and threatened with her life, but she just rolls with the punches.

See also: roll

---

beat somebody to the punch

to do something before someone else can do it I wanted to give my mother a camera, but my brother beat me to the punch.

Etymology: from boxing, in which good fighters are quick to react by punching (hitting) the other fighter before they are hit

See also: beat

pack a punch

to have a powerful effect or influence For big flavor, a blend of cumin, chili powder, coriander, cayenne, and black pepper packs a punch.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pack a punch (hit very hard)

See also: pack

pull your/its punches

to deal with something in a way that is not completely honest I want you to tell me what you think, and don't pull your punches. The film pulls its punches by making a disaster seem romantic.

Opposite of: pull no punches

Etymology: based on boxing, from the literal meaning of pull your punches ( to not hit the other fighter as hard as you can)

See also: pull

pull no punches

to deal with something honestly without hiding anything One congressional leader pulled no punches, saying “we have a recession.” The 20-minute training video pulls no punches, showing chilling pictures of accident victims.

Usage notes: often used in the form not pull any punches: The television network isn't pulling any punches with the subject matter on its new show.

Opposite of: pull your/it's punches

See also: pull

punch a clock

1. to record on a special clock when you arrive and leave work In some offices, if you don't punch a clock, you don't get paid.

2. to go to work every day Someone who is retired doesn't have to punch a clock or commute.

See also: clock

punch in

to use a special machine to record the time you start working If we punch in at 9 a.m., our actual starting time, the company automatically docks us 15 minutes.

punch in something also punch something in

to enter information on a computer or other device by pressing keys You punch in your code to get cash or your bank balance. Each door has a number pad, and for security you have to punch a number in to open the door.

punch out

to use a special machine to record the time you stop working Workers are kicking mud off their shoes and punching out at the construction trailer, weary after another 12-hour day.

See also: out

punch out somebody/something also punch somebody/something out

to hit someone or something Barry lost his job for punching out his boss. He loved to hang out at local taverns and punch people out.

See also: out

punch out something also punch something out

1. to press buttons or keys on a computer or other device In a panic, she grabbed her mobile phone and punched out 911. You'd hand a page to the operator and write the next one while he was punching the first page out.

2. to press something hard to remove it from something larger of which it is a part The ceiling panel was punched out so workers could reach the wires above it. First you have to cut along the lines of each piece with a razor blade, and then you can punch it out.

See also: out

roll with the punches

to adjust to difficult events as they happen roll with it She had to perform shortly after her brother died, but she rolled with the punches and put on a great show.

Etymology: based on boxing, from the literal meaning roll with the punches (step back or to one side as you are being hit), so that you do not receive the full force of the attack

See also: roll