pull no punches
to be direct and honest
TRANSLATION
pull no punches = mit harten Bandagen kämpfen --- GOOGLE INDEX pull no punches: approximately 11,000,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Obama administration PULLS NO PUNCHES on BP oil spill
(The Christian Science Monitor - News Headline)
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Russia's weekly satirical puppet show PULLS NO PUNCHES in it's latest programme, sending a clear signal to the Kremlin not to censor the media.
(BBC News)
(The Christian Science Monitor - News Headline)
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Russia's weekly satirical puppet show PULLS NO PUNCHES in it's latest programme, sending a clear signal to the Kremlin not to censor the media.
(BBC News)
Did you
know?
pull no punches
idiom
- to deal with something honestly without hiding anything
(Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms)
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This expression originated as a boxing term. To "pull a punch" means to pull back or hold back so that a punch does not land with full force. To "pull no punches" then means just the opposite, to throw a punch with full power. In a figurative sense it means to be forthright and honest when dealing with something or someone. It is often expressed in the form "not pull any punches" (The CEO is not pulling any punches regarding the company's poor first quarter performance.)
Boxing has given us a wealth of idioms that are used in everyday English. Here is a small sample:
- down for the count = To be defeated, unable to continue something. Refers to a boxer being knocked down and not being able to get back on his feet before the referee counts to ten (John has a serious illness and is down for the count.)
- go the distance = To carry through a course of action to completion. A boxer is said to go the distance when he finishes all of the rounds (Success requires that we go the distance on this project.)
- low blow = An unfair action or insult. This refers to a punch that lands below the waist, which is not allowed in boxing (That comment you made during the meeting was a low blow!)
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"John always provides good feedback because he pulls no punches."
idiom
- to deal with something honestly without hiding anything
(Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms)
---
This expression originated as a boxing term. To "pull a punch" means to pull back or hold back so that a punch does not land with full force. To "pull no punches" then means just the opposite, to throw a punch with full power. In a figurative sense it means to be forthright and honest when dealing with something or someone. It is often expressed in the form "not pull any punches" (The CEO is not pulling any punches regarding the company's poor first quarter performance.)
Boxing has given us a wealth of idioms that are used in everyday English. Here is a small sample:
- down for the count = To be defeated, unable to continue something. Refers to a boxer being knocked down and not being able to get back on his feet before the referee counts to ten (John has a serious illness and is down for the count.)
- go the distance = To carry through a course of action to completion. A boxer is said to go the distance when he finishes all of the rounds (Success requires that we go the distance on this project.)
- low blow = An unfair action or insult. This refers to a punch that lands below the waist, which is not allowed in boxing (That comment you made during the meeting was a low blow!)
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"John always provides good feedback because he pulls no punches."
