punch

beat someone to the punch anticipate or forestall someone's actions.

pack a punch: seepack.

pleased (or proud) as Punch feeling great delight or pride.

☞ This expression alludes to the self-congratulatory glee displayed by the grotesque, hook-nosed Punch, anti-hero of the Punch and Judy puppet show.

pull your punches be less forceful, severe, or violent than you could be.

punch above your weight engage in an activity or contest perceived as being beyond your capacity or abilities.

☞ This is a metaphor from boxing, in which contests are arranged between opponents of nearly equal weight.

2013Keeping Stock We reckon that it is an excellent aspiration for New Zealand to be seeking a seat on the Security Council. We may be a small country, but on the world stage we punch above our weight.

punch the (time) clock

1 (of an employee) clock in or out.

2 be employed in a conventional job with regular hours.

North American

punch someone's lights out: seelight.

punch your ticket: seeticket.

roll with the punches: seeroll.