Punch

[ puhnch ]
/ pʌntʃ /

noun

the chief male character in a Punch-and-Judy show.

Idioms for Punch

    pleased as Punch, highly pleased; delighted: They were pleased as Punch at having been asked to come along.

Origin of Punch

short for punchinello

British Dictionary definitions for pleased as punch (1 of 4)

punch 1
/ (pʌntʃ) /

verb

to strike blows (at), esp with a clenched fist
(tr) Western US to herd or drive (cattle), esp for a living
(tr) to poke or prod with a stick or similar object
punch above one's weight to do something that is considered to be beyond one's ability

noun

Derived forms of punch

puncher, noun

Word Origin for punch

C15: perhaps a variant of pounce ²

British Dictionary definitions for pleased as punch (2 of 4)

punch 2
/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

verb

(tr) to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch

Word Origin for punch

C14: shortened from puncheon, from Old French ponçon; see puncheon ²

British Dictionary definitions for pleased as punch (3 of 4)

punch 3
/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced

Word Origin for punch

C17: perhaps from Hindi pānch, from Sanskrit pañca five; the beverage originally included five ingredients

British Dictionary definitions for pleased as punch (4 of 4)

Punch
/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

the main character in the traditional children's puppet show Punch and Judy

Idioms and Phrases with pleased as punch (1 of 2)

pleased as Punch

Delighted, as in We were pleased as Punch when they asked us to be god-parents. This term alludes to the character Punch in Punch and Judy shows, who is always very happy when his evil deeds succeed. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with pleased as punch (2 of 2)

punch