COMMON If someone does not pull their punches or pulls no punches, they state facts or opinions directly, without trying not to upset people. He had never lied to me in the past and he didn't pull his punches now. He told me that in his opinion, Robin would be dead in nine months. He pulls no punches in his attacks on the government's foreign policy. Note: If boxers pull their punches, they do not hit their opponent as hard as they could do.