pull your punches
/ˌpʊl jə ˈpʌntʃɪz/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to criticise less strongly than you could
Examples
- 1The review didn't pull its punches and called the film a complete waste of time.
- 2When Gran gives feedback on your cooking, she never pulls her punches.
- 3The coach didn't pull her punches: she told us it was our worst match of the season.
- 4Should I pull my punches when I review my friend's novel, or tell her honestly what I think?
- 5Priya doesn't pull her punches, so expect some blunt comments on your essay.
Grammar
Usually negative: not pull your punches, or pull no punches. Only pull changes form; your changes to my, her, its and so on.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →roll with the punchesto cope calmly with a series of difficultiesgo the distanceto keep going until the end of something difficultwin hands downto beat everyone else very easilyplay ballto agree to help in the way someone wantsthe gloves are offpeople are ready to fight or argue without holding backthe ball is in your courtit is now your turn to act or decide
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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