pull no punches — to speak or act without restraint; to be completely honest and direct, even if it might hurt someone's feelings
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to speak or act without restraint; to be completely honest and direct, even if it might hurt someone's feelings
Pronunciation (IPA): /pʊl noʊ ˈpʌntʃɪz/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother pulls no punches - she told me my cooking tastes like cardboard soaked in disappointment.
- The movie critic pulled no punches, calling the film 'a masterpiece of confusion and wasted potential.'
- When it comes to performance reviews, our boss pulls no punches - last year he told Steve his productivity was 'impressively low.'
pull no punches
NOUN[/pʊl noʊ ˈpʌntʃɪz/]
to speak or act without restraint; to be completely honest and direct, even if it might hurt someone's feelings
The boss pulled no punches when telling him his report was a disaster.
She pulls no punches reviewing lunches, even when it crunches!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase originates from boxing terminology, where 'pull' means to reduce or withdraw force. The expression refers to a boxer not pulling back their punches, meaning they deliver full-force blows without restraint. By metaphorical extension, it came to mean speaking candidly and forcefully without hesitation or softening one's words.
Breakdown
pull (to withdraw or reduce force) + no (without) + punches (forceful blows in boxing). The phrase literally means 'do not reduce the force of punches' and figuratively means 'do not soften or hold back one's words.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother pulls no punches - she told me my cooking tastes like cardboard soaked in disappointment.”
“The movie critic pulled no punches, calling the film 'a masterpiece of confusion and wasted potential.'”
“When it comes to performance reviews, our boss pulls no punches - last year he told Steve his productivity was 'impressively low.'”
📚Related Words
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