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Glite Dictionary
fist magnet

fist magnet

9.9
A person who often ends up in physical fights
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : imán de puñetazos (informal, ofensivo)
  • His rude remarks quickly made him a fist magnet at the party.

Examples

  • You don't want to act like a fist magnet in that neighborhood.

  • At school, his constant teasing turned him into a fist magnet among the other kids.

  • Ever since the incident, he's been something of a fist magnet.

  • He is such a fist magnet that fights follow him everywhere.

  • Why do you think John is a fist magnet?

  • His arrogant behavior makes him a fist magnet wherever he goes.

  • She realized that her attitude was making her a fist magnet in her new neighborhood.

Surface Forms

fist magnet singular
fist magnets plural

Morphology

fist + magnet

The meaning is directly derivable by composing 'fist' (a closed hand used for hitting) with the familiar sense of 'magnet' (something that attracts); a learner who knows both words can infer 'someone who attracts punches or fights.' This is a productive, easily interpreted metaphor (X-magnet = one who attracts X), so the sense should be immediately accessible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Fist magnet may come from the picture of a person who seems to attract punches the way a magnet attracts metal, and the word fist shows it is about hitting. So it means 'a person who attracts physical fights'.