knockout punch
3
3.6
- noun
- /ˈnɑːkˌaʊt pʌnʧ/
:
golpe de nocaut
- The boxer's knockout punch left his opponent unable to continue the bout.
- deliver a knockout punch
- land a knockout punch
Examples
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Romney gave him opportunity after opportunity to deliver knockout punches.
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The Huskers tried to land the knockout punch going into halftime, but the Gophers stopped Cross for no gain on second-and-goal from the 1 as the clock ran out.
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But if we're going for that knockout punch, we better connect.
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Obama could have delivered the knockout punch Wednesday.
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It's like Romney was playing prevent defense instead of going for the knockout punch.
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If he tried to go for the knockout punch, he would likely have walked into a right hook from Obama and been KOed himself.
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With the Cougars leading 17-0 at the end of the first half, they appeared ready to throw the knockout punch.
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Newt had his moments in the debate, but he failed to deliver any knockout punches.
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And if Romney continues his masterful attack in the second debate, he just may have delivered the knockout punch.
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In a nutshell, the Suns got down, fought back, and ultimately could not return the more talented Lakers' knockout punch.
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Synonyms
39
3.9
A punch that makes someone unconscious and unable to continue
6
5.3
A blow that knocks the other fighter unconscious and ends the match
3
8.1
A very strong punch meant to knock someone out
1
5.8
A hard punch that knocks an opponent out so they cannot continue
1
8.3
A very strong punch in boxing meant to knock someone out
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents directly contribute to the meaning: 'knockout' denotes a blow that renders someone unable to continue and 'punch' is a blow with a fist, so together they transparently mean a punch that causes a knockout. This compounding follows regular English noun-noun composition and is a predictable, cross-linguistically common concept, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will understand it.
Etymology
The noun knockout punch comes from boxing and creates a clear image: one strong punch that makes an opponent a knockout, so they 'pass out' or cannot continue. That's why it means a single blow powerful enough to end the fight.