throw punches

idiom

: to swing one's arm and try to hit someone with one's fist
I broke up the argument before they started throwing punches.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In a video shared by Fox 35 News on Tuesday, people are seen on the floor whilst others throw punches in front of the sign. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 On the day of his transfer to Central State, jail surveillance video shows a group of deputies enter his cell, with one appearing to throw punches. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023 After the Spartans lost 29-7 to rival Michigan, one video clip showed a crowd of Michigan State players appearing to throw punches and kicks at an opposing player in a tunnel at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Christopher Brito, CBS News, 31 Oct. 2022 What followed was a brief melee, where another Wisconsin assistant, Sharif Chambliss, seemed to slip and fall, during which time, several Badgers and Wolverines players seemed to throw punches before the two sides were separated. Kirkland Crawford, Detroit Free Press, 20 Feb. 2022 The White teenager pushes the Black teenager, who begins to throw punches at the other boy. Rob Frehse And Laura Studley, CNN, 16 Feb. 2022 The second period saw O'Brien and the Islanders' Matt Martin throw punches, and both were given five-minute penalties for fighting. José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2021 The greats can throw punches to set up other punches. Zack Jones, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2021 Most days, Conor Friedersdorf and Issac Bailey throw punches at each other. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 May 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'throw punches.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Dictionary Entries Near throw punches

Cite this Entry

“Throw punches.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw%20punches. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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