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, nounWord 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