verb · irregular · intransitive · rare

punch above one's weight

punch above one's weight · punches above one's weight · punched above one's weight · punching above one's weight

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To achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's…To (attempt to) achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments.

/pʌntʃ əˈbʌv wʌnz weɪt/

» South Korea punches above its weight in the global economy.

Lumi · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR

Meaning

1 senses

(idiomatic)To (attempt to) achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments.
2017 Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas I can see why you love her so much. You're definitely punching above your weight.
über seine Grenzen hinaus wachsen
пры́гнуть вы́ше головы́prýgnutʹ výše golový

Examples

1 sentences

South Korea punches above its weight in the global economy.
Lumi · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

5 languages

Русский

By meaning 1

achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments:

Origin

An allusion to a boxer who punches more powerfully than other boxers in the same weight cl

An allusion to a boxer who punches more powerfully than other boxers in the same weight class.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

punches above one's weight, punching above one's weight, punched above one's weight, punched above one's weight

Base form	punch above one's weight · to punch above one's weight
3rd person singular	punches above one's weight
Present participle	punching above one's weight
Past simple	punched above one's weight
Past participle	punched above one's weight

irregular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, they	punch above one's weight
he, she, it	punches above one's weight

Past simpleLesson

all persons

punched above one's weight

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, they	have punched above one's weight
he, she, it	has punched above one's weight

Future simple (will)Lesson