punch down

punch down

1. To push or press something downward with great force or speed. The fighter pilot punched the throttle down, and the jet rocketed forward. I punched down the drill into the brick.
2. To press down firmly in the center of dough with one's fist after it has risen in order to eliminate gas bubbles and redistribute yeast. A noun or pronoun can be used between "punch" and "down." Make sure you punch down your dough before you bake it, or your bread will be full of huge air bubbles when it comes out of the oven. Your dough will end up much tastier if you punch it down after it finishes rising.
3. To break up and submerge the solid mass of grape skins, seeds, and stems (known as the "cap") that rises to the top of wine during the fermentation process. A noun or pronoun can be used between "punch" and "down." A: "I tried making red wine at home, but it tasted pretty weak." B: "You probably forgot to punch down the cap." Punching the cap down will give your wine better color and astringency, not to mention flavor.
4. To insert and secure a copper telecommunication wire into some kind of open-ended connector. A noun or pronoun can be used between "punch" and "down." The phrase can be used in reference to the wire or the connector. You've got to make sure the wire is nice and straight when you go to punch it down. It's clear just from looking at this that whoever installed this thing had no idea how to punch down a patch panel.
5. slang To make jokes at the expense of a person or group that is in a position of social, political, or economic weakness relative to oneself. The comedian suddenly started telling jokes about people in the ghettos, and I got really uncomfortable. Comedians shouldn't punch down, if you ask me.
See also: down, punch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: down, punch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • be down to (do something)
  • be down to something
  • come a gutser
  • be down to (one)
  • be down to somebody/something
  • clamp down
  • clamp down on
  • clamp down on (someone or something)
  • come down in buckets
  • bounce up and down
References in periodicals archive
Caption: From this central catwalk, cellar workers use a pneumatic punch-down device set on a steel rail to punch down the caps between one and three times per day.
Lazy Creek Vineyards: new winery at well-known estate focuses on Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Although Bhuvneshwar Kumar's (4-0-20-2) prowess with the ball and Warner's late onslaught had appeared to put the hosts firmly in control, the report mentioned that Simmons took the game by the scruff of the neck with his half-century and Rayudu brought up the milestone with a comfortable punch down the ground an over later.
Mumbai Indians cruises to third IPL-7 victory following 7-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad
Punch down dough, knead a little, divide in half, and put into two greased bread pans.
DIY sourdough starter
Dulles, VA, January 01, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Cabling Icon announced today that Joenathan Barnes is the winner of the Season 3 Cabling Icon contest and will receive the $3,500 cash jackpot, the coveted golden punch down award, an embroidered Cabling Icon leather vest, and worldwide bragging rights.
Season 3 Cabling Icon Winner Named in Low Voltage Cabling Industry Contest
Cadyce to tap the Indian market with entire range of structured cabling solutions including keystone Jacks, Faceplates, Cat6 patch cords, Cat6 Patch Panels, Cat6 Cable box and also cable management tools like Network Cable Tester, RJ-11/RJ-45 Crimping tool and Punch down Tool.
Cadyce Enters the Structured Cabling Market in India
"Whether anything comes to fruition, we'll have to wait and see, but in Ukuma we know we've already got a player who'll give us a lot of punch down the middle.
Ukuma's primed to make impact
(Approximately 2 hours at room temperature.) Punch down and shape into loaves (4-5), place in greased and floured loaf pans.
Debbie's bread
THIS autumn's most anticipated Shakespeare may be Antony and Cleopatra, but it doesn't stop one of the Bard's more popular pieces from packing a punch down at the Lantern Theatre.
To see or not to see ... and the answer's a definite yes; THEATRE REVIEW Hamlet/ Lantern Theatre
"People have always doubted me and I have always faced adversity, but my rivals are the ones at a disadvantage because they have to punch down." Lowe, who started boxing five years ago, added: "I am a ferocious come forward fighter, but I don't go around shouting my mouth off.
LOWESET TOPROVE ABIG HIT
The SS-51 punch down blocks enable Field termination of AWG 22-26 solid copper wire/cabling in CAT 6a and CAT 7 applications where wires are individually shielded.
CAT 6a/7 termination block
Should Knox's shoulder hold up, he and Mobilio will provide a formidable 1-2 punch down low.
Division 1 Hockey at a Glance
I've been working on my core strength and I've improved over the course of fall camp, but I still need to get that punch down.
Hucko busts a move to guard spot
"Let him do what he wants to do, showing the punch down the lane a little bit, just get him tuned up for Saturday.
Horse Racing: Street Sense set fair for Travers
* When you're installing jacks or punching down wires on the terminal board, untwist pairs carefully and punch down within 1/2 in.
Get wired! Install two types of cable now--and all your telephone, cable TV, computer and Internet needs will be set for the 21st century
Basically we replaced the voice coil with a needle and then put in a signal at 24 frames per second so the needle would punch down every 24th of a frame.
ROMAN KROITOR