What Does "Pull One's Punches" Mean?
"Pull one's punches" is an English idiom. It means "to avoid using one's full strength or force, often in physical combat, criticism, or expression, resulting in a less severe impact or effect."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "pull one's punches" used in a sentence:- In their friendly sparring match, they agreed to pull their punches to avoid injury.
- When providing feedback, he chose to pull his punches to avoid hurting the employee's feelings.
- The comedian didn't pull her punches when delivering her sharp and honest stand-up routine.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pull One's Punches" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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