What Does "Pull Punches" Mean?
"Pull punches" is an English idiom. It means "to hold back or weaken one's efforts, especially in delivering criticism or attacks, rather than exerting full force or effort."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "pull punches" used in a sentence:- During the debate, she didn't pull any punches when discussing her opponent's policies.
- The critic didn't pull any punches in their scathing review of the new movie.
- In a negotiation, it's essential to be honest and direct, not to pull punches.
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 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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