Meaning

2 senses

  1. To avoid using a high level of force when punching.

  2. (figuratively)To act with reserve; especially, to word something delicately to avoid giving offense or inciting anger.

    Near-synonym: mince words

    I did not pull any punches when I told them my thoughts.

Translations

2 languages

Origin

Originally from boxing. First use appears c. the 1920s.

Originally from boxing. First use appears c. the 1920s.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

pulls punches, pulling punches, pulled punches, pulled punches
Base formpull punches · to pull punches
3rd person singularpulls punches
Present participlepulling punches
Past simplepulled punches
Past participlepulled punches

irregular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theypull punches
he, she, itpulls punches

Past simpleLesson

all personspulled punches

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave pulled punches
he, she, ithas pulled punches

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill pull punches

Synonyms

2 synonyms
hold backmince words

Word family

2 related words
Relatedgo easykid glove

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
pukepullA2pulleypulloverB1pulmonary
pull punches — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto