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Glite Dictionary
to pull punches

to pull punches

3 6.7
To hold back criticism or strong action to avoid hurting someone
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : no escatimar críticas
  • If you want honest criticism, don’t expect her to pull punches in her assessment.

And I love the fact that she did not pull punches on that.

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Examples

  • I don't pull punches based on the OP's identity.

    Blog text (25)

  • I will do everything in my power to be friendly, engaging, and cooperative—but I won't pull punches either.

    Blog text (20)

  • And I love the fact that she did not pull punches on that.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • Gene doesn't pull punches in this review.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The world doesn't need more critics who pull punches to spare feelings or maintain access.

    Blog text (31)

  • We don't pull punches at CFI, and we don't just preach to the choir either.

    Blog text (7)

  • While I make my living selling ads (which I realize makes my opinions suspect to some here), I'd like to think that I also don't pull punches when it comes to discussing the state of the current media environment.

    Blog text (32)

  • The battle, in a lower Manhattan courtroom, will pit a team of federal prosecutors who have been investigating the case for more than two years against John Dowd, a veteran Washington defense lawyer with a reputation for not pulling punches.

    Blog text (4)

  • She never pulls punches when giving feedback, ensuring her clients know exactly what they need to improve.

  • During the debate, the candidate did not pull punches and spoke frankly about the issues.

Synonyms

to let it go
vsto pull punches
370 3.5

To choose not to react to something annoying

involves active restraint to soften criticism not just ignoring provocation
to hold back
vsto pull punches
108 4.2

Keep yourself from showing feelings or telling others

is done specifically to avoid offending or soften criticism
to suppress
vsto pull punches
88 5.8

To hold back feelings or reactions

is aimed at softening criticism rather than general inner control
to stifle
vsto pull punches
49 5.3

To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show

is milder restraint meant to avoid hurting people
to keep back
vsto pull punches
4 5.1

Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter

focuses more on softening criticism to avoid offence
to choke back
vsto pull punches
4 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

is deliberate softening of criticism rather than forced suppression
to choke down
vsto pull punches
2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

is done to avoid hurting others rather than merely hiding feelings
to pull one's head in
vsto pull punches
  • UK
1 9.5

Be quieter and more careful about what you say

is about holding back criticism specifically to spare others feelings

Antonyms

to speak openly
7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

How Forceful

attack
548 3.2
to criticize
701 3.3
to pull punches
  • Informal
3 6.7
to hold back
108 4.2

Surface Forms

pull punches infinitive
pulled punches past
pulled punches past participle
pulling punches present participle
pulls punches third person singular

Morphology

pull + punches

The literal combination suggests 'pulling' (withholding) 'punches' (blows), so a learner who knows 'pull' and 'punch' can infer a meaning about holding back force. However, the extension to withholding criticism or verbal force is a boxing-to-social metaphor that is not fully predictable without exposure or cultural/pragmatic knowledge, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Pull punches comes from boxing: a boxer who pulls a punch holds back a hit so it does not land hard. So today pull punches means 'to hold back or not use full force' when saying something, often 'to avoid hurting or offending someone'.