quick jab
1
3.6
- noun
- Specialized
:
golpe rápido
- Tom swung a looping right to his head, but the smaller boy sent a quick jab through his ineffective guard to crack against his mouth, rocking his head back.
- One quick jab
Examples
-
Otherwise, it's a quick jab with a shiv to the kidney.
Blog text (8) -
Three quick jabs to the stomach and Himbry goes down.
Fiction book (1996) -
Caught him with three quick jabs to his midsection, which caused him to belch.
Fiction book (1991) -
Sheamus delivered a quick jab to the gut and got Sandow into the corner.
Blog text (19) -
Backing up, PK repays the compliment with two quick jabs to the face.
Fiction book (1992) -
He'd charged his massive bulk around the ring, swinging wildly, while his opponent bloodied his face with quick jabs.
Fiction book (1990) -
With a sudden motion, she threw a quick jab to his ribs, catching him by surprise.
-
During the match, the boxer used a quick jab to keep his opponent at bay.
-
He practiced his quick jab repeatedly, knowing it was crucial for his success in the ring.
Synonyms
61
2.8
A quick straight punch used in boxing
2
5.6
A quick sharp hit, often with the hand
A fast forward jab with a hand or a weapon
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'quick' (done in a short time) simply modifies 'jab' (a short, fast boxing punch), so the combined meaning 'a fast punch' is directly derivable from the parts. This adjective + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English composition, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Quick jab comes from boxing: quick shows speed and jab is a short, straight punch, so picture a fighter throwing a fast hit with the front hand to upset an opponent's rhythm. That's why it means 'a fast, sharp punch delivered quickly'.