punch-up

1 of 2

noun

chiefly British

punch up

2 of 2

verb

punched up; punching up; punches up

transitive verb

: to give energy or forcefulness to
jokes added to punch up a speech

Examples of punch-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Often, when shows do crossovers, the writers on one will do punch-up for their characters on the other. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025 Toward the end there’s a punch-up, with several players involved. David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 But the rest of the skit was punching up and I/Chelsea was the only one punched down on … Not Sarah Squirm’s fault and not hating on her. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for punch-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1958, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of punch-up was in 1958

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Cite this Entry

“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punch-up. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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