punch-out

or punch·out

[ puhnch-out ]

noun

1. a small section of cardboard or metal surrounded by perforations so that it can be easily forced out.
2. Slang. a fistfight or brawl.
3. Baseball. the air-punching gesture an umpire makes to denote a third strike, effectively ending the batter’s at-bat:

   Stein didn’t develop his signature punch-out until his third season umpiring in the minors.

Word History and Origins

Origin of punch-out¹

First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase punch out

Example Sentences

The judge said he accepted Mr Ellis had "punched out towards you".

From BBC

“We threatened in the eighth inning, had the guys we wanted up to bat, but Robertson found his way to punch out the side, again, the same three guys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times

DeChambeau seemed to sense it himself, judging by the disconsolate look on his face after he punched out into the fairway and found himself confronted with another likely bogey.

From Seattle Times

He punched out his second-grade teacher because he got mad at him.

From Salon

At the time, Mr DeSantis framed the second-place finish as a victory, claiming that his campaign "got our ticket punched out of Iowa".

From BBC

Related Words

• bloodshed
• combat
• conflict
• dispute
• exchange
• hostility
• melee
• riot
• scuffle
• strife
• struggle
• war
• warfare