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👊 To hit hard 👊 A hard hit 🕳️ To make a hole 🍹 A mixed drink 🛠️ A hole tool
punch

punch

134 3.9
A cold mixed drink with fruit juice often served from a bowl
  • noun
  • /pʌntʃ/
translation icon : ponche
  • For the summer picnic, we prepared a big bowl of tropical punch for the guests.
  • rum punch

Examples

  • Over at the drinks table, Rob's partner of many years, Arthur, was pouring punch for everyone.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Miguel Chico was taking his turn serving punch at the far end of the gym.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I also wanted some of the fruit punch and cookies before I hit the road.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • We spike the punch with lots of sugar.

  • Don't drink too much punch.

    Beautiful Girls (1996)

  • Afterwards, there was cake and punch, and a few gifts for Becky.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Granny brings people cups of steaming punch from a punch bowl.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I've got some super bells tangerine punch, which looks good with the coleus.

  • "The Saint Cecilia punch was composed largely of excellent champagne mixed with superlative brandy.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Pike picks up a glass of punch as he notices the stain on Buffy's dress.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

cooler
vspunch
  • Archaic
9 4.4

A cold alcoholic drink made with wine and fruit juice served with ice

is made in large quantities and served from a communal bowl rather than individually
fruit punch
vspunch
4 1.8

A sweet drink made from mixed fruit juices often served at parties

is the alcoholic or mixed bowl drink usually prepared in large quantities
milk punch
vspunch
1 7.9

A cold alcoholic drink made with milk, sugar, and spices

is a general fruit juice based bowl drink rather than dairy based
claret cup
vspunch
  • Archaic
9.2

A cold drink made from red wine, brandy, lemon, sugar, and fresh fruit

is the general iced bowl drink usually made with fruit juices
fish house punch
vspunch
  • US
9.0

A sweet party punch made with rum and brandy, mixed with tea or water and served from a bowl

is a general large mixed bowl drink rather than this specific traditional recipe

Idioms

to beat to the punch
15 5.5

To do something before someone else to get an advantage

to punch above one's weight
  • Informal
1 7.4

To have more success than people expect from your size or ability

to punch one's ticket
  • Informal
8.5

To get a sure chance to succeed, for example a job or a place on a team

to punch below one's weight
  • Informal
8.1

To do less well than your skills or what people expect

to punch someone's lights out
  • Offensive
9.8

Hit someone very hard so they are knocked out

Compounds

punch line
29 3.5

The last part of a joke that makes people laugh

punch bowl
12 2.6

A large deep bowl for serving drinks at parties

punch card
  • Archaic
11 7.4

A stiff card with holes that show information used by old computers

punch bag
  • Offensive
6 5.0

A person others blame or hurt repeatedly

sucker punch
  • Informal
5 7.2

An unexpected unfair punch or sudden hurtful remark without warning

fruit punch
4 1.8

A sweet drink made from mixed fruit juices often served at parties

knockout punch
3 3.6

A hit that makes the other fighter unable to continue, often ending the match

gut punch
  • Informal
1 8.0

A sudden strong feeling of shock and disappointment from bad news

punch-up
  • NSFW
1 7.8

A physical fight where people hit each other with fists

rabbit punch
  • Jargon
1 9.3

A short hard hit to the back of the neck that is dangerous and illegal in boxing

KO punch
1 5.8

A hard punch that knocks an opponent out so they cannot continue

milk punch
1 7.9

A cold alcoholic drink made with milk, sugar, and spices

punch press
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A machine that cuts and shapes metal sheets by pressing a shaped tool

planter's punch
1 7.1

A sweet cocktail made with rum, lime or lemon juice and sugar

Sunday punch
1 8.3

A very strong punch in boxing meant to knock someone out

blanking punch
  • Specialized
9.9

A tool that cuts shapes from a flat metal sheet with a matching die

center punch
  • Specialized
7.4

A small tool with a pointed end that makes a dent to mark where to drill

fish house punch
  • US
9.0

A sweet party punch made with rum and brandy, mixed with tea or water and served from a bowl

punch bag
1.4

A heavy bag hung up that you hit to train for boxing

punch pliers
  • Specialized
6.8

A tool like pliers that makes holes in leather or paper

punch-up
  • Jargon
7.7

A meeting where writers make a script's jokes better

How Alcoholic

punch
134 3.9
fruit punch
4 1.8

Surface Forms

punch singular
punches plural

Etymology

Punch meaning the drink comes from Hindi pāñch 'five' because the original recipe used five main ingredients, and the name stuck for a mixed bowl drink. So a party 'punch' is a drink made from a mix of several ingredients.