Green’s Dictionary of Slang

punch v.

1. to engage in sexual intercourse.

[UK]J. Taylor Bawd in Works II 97: Shee casts and hammers her wenches into all fashions; shee hath them burnished, pollish’d, punch’d and turnd.
[UK]Man of Pleasure’s Illus. Pocket-book n.p.: A tidy lot of men-tailors work here on a new principle, as the men work all the eyelet-holes, and do all the punching and pressing.
[US] in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 106: Then I pissed and punched around the hole / Until I got it open.
[US](con. late 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 437: Yeow. Jack here wants to punch you.
[US](con. 1968) W.E. Merritt Where the Rivers Ran Backward 242: I didn’t diddle around with the local stuff. Didn’t even punch on any doughnut dollies. I’m as clean as a boiled rat.
[Aus]B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 285: punch to penetrate with the penis.

2. to deflower; thus punchable

[UK] in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 287: Young Damsels Lamentation: Or, Their Dreadful Outcry Against the Late Punching, which has Crack’d above Four Hundred and Fifty West-Country Maiden-heads.

3. (US campus) to give a failing grade.

[US] (ref. to 1930s) D. Pinckney High Cotton (1993) 37: She remembered very well how upset a cousin was when E.E. Just punched him at Howard University [...] To get punched, back then, meant to receive a failing grade.

4. (US Und.) to break open a safe using a steel punch and a hammer to knock out the combination.

[US]J. Archibald ‘Dying to See Willie’ in Popular Detective Mar. 🌐 They also took forty grand from the safe which looked like a punch job to [...] the Safe an’ Loft Squad.
[US]Goldin et al. DAUL 166/2: Punch. To burglarize a safe by means of a heavy steel punch and a hammer with which the combination dial is knocked off, and, after the tumblers are lined up, the old-style locking mechanism smashed.
[US]B. Jackson Thief’s Primer 53: Then there is punch or punching. That is when you knock the numbered dial off. There’s a pin in there, and that pin holds the tumblers in position. You knock the pin and the tumblers fall down and the safe will open.

5. (US) to accelerate a car; drive (fast).

J. Elllroy Brown’s Requiem 111: ‘I ducked and punched the gas. I lost them’.
[US]T. Jones Pugilist at Rest 102: Fucking little Jason tells Victoria that Uncle Bob punched the V-12 up to 130 m.p.h.
[US]G. Pelecanos Shame the Devil 21: ‘Punch this motherfucker,’ said Otis. Frank pinned the accelerator.
[US]‘Dutch’ ? (Pronounced Que) [ebook] He slowed up, slightly allowing the police to gain ground. ‘What the fuck you doin’?’ Punch this shit!’ Egypt urged.
[US](con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 58: I jumped back in the truck [...] punched it down to Carmelina.

In derivatives

punchable (adj.)

a woman considered ripe for seduction; thus punchable nun n., a prostitute.

[UK] ‘Young Damsels Lamentation’ in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 287: I am Punchable she cry’d, therefore will not be deny’d; He being willing, for a shilling, readily comply’d.
[UK] ‘Rare News for the Female Sex’ in Pepys Ballads (1987) III 184: I’m Punchable ’tis known, my Marygold is blown.
[UK]N. Ward Compleat and Humorous Account of Remarkable Clubs (1756) 270: The Lady-Abbess of the Brothel-Monastry never wanting [...] Ready-money Chapmen for any of her Punchable Nuns, who had not, as yet, broken the brittle Vow of Female Chastity.
[UK]New Canting Dict. n.p.: punchable [...] a Woman marriageable.
[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: A girl that is ripe for man is called a punchable wench.
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

In compounds

punchboard (n.) (also punchcard) [pun on SE punchboard/punchcard]

(US) a promiscuous woman; a cheap prostitute.

C. Colnett In Daddy’s Bed [ebook] Pam had been the high school punchboard-a good-looking, sexy little blonde with a nympho's need for males [...] If you want to suck some pussy, you find the local punchboard - but keep your mouth and cock the hell away from my Cindy.
[US]L. Heinemann Paco’s Story (1987) 100: Most of the young-blood pilgrims down at Rita’s have enjoyed her plenty, calling her the ‘town punchboard’.
[US](con. 1949) G. Pelecanos Big Blowdown (1999) 152: We’re not talkin’ about five-dollar punchboards here. And none of them were known streetwalkers.
[US](con. 1964–8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 220: Said girl were ‘liberal cooze.’ Said girls were ‘punchboards out for black stick’.
punch house (n.)

see separate entry.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

punch-on (n.)

(Aus.) a fight, esp. in a street or public house; thus punch-on artist, a street fighter.

[Aus]W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 89: I could tell he was the veteran of quite a few punch-ons, judging by the marks of past conflict on his face.
[Aus]M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper From The Inside 105: I’ve never heard of Al having a punch on without 10 or 12 helpers backing him up.
[Aus]M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read Chopper 4 29: Some of the best punch-on artists in Australia come from Tassie.
punch-out (n.)

see separate entry.

punch-up (n.)

1. (also punch on) a fight, usu. in the street, a pub etc.

News Chronicle 4 June 5/1: [On]ne lad boasted of being able to call up his team of 150 for a ‘punch-up’ within the hour.
[UK]P. Willmott Adolescent Boys of East London (1969) 28: Everybody turns out if there’s a real punch-up with another mob.
J. McNeill Chocolate Frog (1973) 23: Shirker: All you learned at yer shitpot university, stupe, was ter get in a pub punch-up.
[UK]Daily Mirror 19 Aug. 1: A punch-up involving National Front supporters flared up as the Ladywood by-election result was announced.
[UK]‘Derek Raymond’ He Died with His Eyes Open 31: What is it this time? The punch-up we had in here Saturday night?
[UK]Observer Screen 27 June 20: If you’re looking for a punch up, the much anticipated head-to-head [...] is a damp squid.
[UK]Indep. Mag. 22 Jan. 11: No press wars and no punch-ups.
[Aus](con. 1960s-70s) T. Taylor Top Fellas 63/1: It took one person to start something and it was on, all in punch on.
E. Wald Dozens 13: I have Scottish friends whose idea of a good time on a Saturday night is a ‘punch-up,’ sometimes with a buddy, sometimes with a stranger.
W. Boyd Trio 239: he had had to deal with drugs, divorces, physical punch-ups [...] drunkenness on the set.

2. a beating.

[UK]J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 190: If, in the punch-up, the law decorated his face, it was jam to explain it away.
[UK]R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 24: A right punch-up from the law in a little granite room.
[UK]J. Cameron It Was An Accident 95: Sooner wait for a punch-up on association down Wandsworth than this.

In phrases

punch a dark one (v.) (also punch a nougat, …steamer)

(N.Z.) to defecate.

[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 164: punch out a dark one/a nougat/a steamer To defecate. ANZ.
punch cows (v.)

see separate entry.

punch in (v.) [the punching of a time clock]

to arrive (at work).

[Aus]G. Farwell in Coast to Coast (1943) 116: Yesterday I was late punching in. They’ll be docking me .
[US]B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 131: The bar that usually kept busy until after the good people had punched in for their morning work.
[US]E. Torres Carlito’s Way 59: Then the Cubans punched in. Cubiches! They sure shook up the hoodlums.
[US]W. Kramer Hard Stuff 34: [M]ore often, the teachers just punched in and collected their pay.
punch it (v.)

1. in senses of movement [one’s feet ‘punch’ the street].

(a) (UK/US Und.) to run away, to escape.

[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum.
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
[US]C. Shafer ‘Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks’ in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 212: punch it, v. – to escape.

(b) to walk, to go.

[Scot]D. Haggart Autobiog. 48: I will punsh outsides with your nibs, but not with that gloach.

(c) (US campus) to hurry, to make a vehicle go fast.

[US]S. Ace Stand On It (1979) 257: He was punching it as hard as he could [...] and the little, teeny engine was having the time of its life.
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Oct. 4: punch it – hurry: We’d better punch it or we won’t make it to class on time.
[UK]G. Iles Turning Angel 140: You’re two minutes away, if you punch it.

2. (US gay) to take the passive role in anal intercourse.

[US]B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 112: Most hustlers claim they protect their manhood [...] Others, however, pack or punch it which is complete acceptance of the customer’s cock anally.
punch out (v.)

see separate entry.

punch someone’s ticket (v.) (also punch someone’s time-card) [the image of ‘cancelling’ the victim’s life] (US)

1. to murder, to kill.

[US]J. Lait Put on the Spot 185: ‘They punched my ticket,’ Monk whispered, his voice hissing and crackling like waxed paper, ‘and I’m just about to my station.’.
[UK]K. Mackenzie Living Rough 69: Aw, pipe down there, Greasy [...] or you’ll be having St. Peter punch your ticket in a few minutes if I wind in on you.
[US]E. Torres Carlito’s Way 69: Sure punched his ticket.
[US]K. Anderson Night Dogs 81: ‘That nigger would have shot your ass if I hadn’t punched his ticket’.
[US]T. Dorsey Cadillac Beach 115: I just know he didn’t drown. Someone punched his ticket.
[US]J. Stahl Pain Killers 369: So what are you saying - we punch his ticket?
[Aus]J.J. DeCeglie Drawing Dead [ebook] Perhaps I should have punched my own ticket already, ’cause life was a sham.
[US]T. Robinson Rough Trade [ebook] Maybe he planned on punching Byron’s ticket either way.
[US]S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 44: ‘If I have to punch somebody’s ticket I’ll do it’.

2. to beat comprehensively; to punish.

[US](con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 185: He beat that colored guy [...] He punched his ticket.
[US](con. WWII) T. Sanchez Hollywoodland (1981) 86: This Fresno bunch is cowed. Angel’s been punching the ticket on each of them.
[US]J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 284: ‘It’s called [...] “you punch a shithead’s ticket that deserved to be punched”’.
punch the... (v.)

see also under relevant nouns.

punch the bag (v.) [boxing imagery, training rather than competitive fighting]

(US) to go through the motions.

[US]C. Stoker Thicker ’n Thieves 228: There are prosecutions and ‘prosecutions,’ meaning that upon occasion the district attorney merely ‘punches the bag’ for public edification, having no intention of convicting the criminal before the bar of justice.
punch the bundy (v.) [ety. unknown]

1. (Aus.) to work hard, less from choice than from the desire to make more money.

[Aus]G.W. Turner Eng. Lang. in Aus. and N.Z. 108: Some slang seems to be better known in New South Wales [...] punch the bundy ‘clock in at work’ (from the name of the manufacturer of the clock).
[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 834/1: since ca. 1935.
[Aus]R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Dict. 42: Punch the bundy: Literally to arrive at work on time and check in at one’s appointed hour. However, in popular parlance punching the bundy meant that one was unwillingly doing a lot of ‘hard graft’ in an effort to ‘make a quid’.

2. (Aus.) to check in, to register.

[Aus]R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] ‘I can punch the bundy at Waverley Police Station on the way up’.
punch the clock (v.) (also punch a clock) [SE punch + (time)clock]

1. to ‘clock on’ or ‘clock off’ for work.

A.M. Drake Vial of Vishnu 323: Come in in the morning, punch the clock; go out to lunch, punch the clock; come in from lunch, punch the clock [...] Well, you see, besides punching the clock, every man working in one of those big shops has a time ticket.
[US]W. Edge Main Stem 1: It was [...] dark when I punched the time clock of this damn’ stove factory.
[US]O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 31 May [synd. col.] He will not have to punch a studio clock.
S. Aleichem Adventures of Mottel 283: That’s what is called ‘punching the clock.’ The card says the exact hour and minute you’ve come. Then comes the foreman and checks your card.
[UK]G.F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 111: A detective [...] can’t punch the clock.
Solomon & Tytell Emergency Messages 85: The work day begins with punching the clock.
CIO Mag. 15 Dec. 22/3: Swiping the card is now the Information Age equivalent of punching the clock for hourly employees.
Indianapolis Monthly Apr. 137/1: I ran into the parking lot without punching the clock— something I knew might get my pay docked.

2. to be employed, to go to work.

[US]Howsley Argot: Dict. of Und. Sl.
[US]P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 219: One day we were punching the clock out on a job on the West Side and as we were taking the bartender to the back to lock him up, he dashed up a stairway leading to an upstairs apartment.
[US]N. Thornburg Cutter and Bone (2001) 10: Hell, he’ll have you punching a clock before the week’s out.
[US]N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 259: That was a major leap from punching a clock.
[US]J. Stahl I, Fatty 250: Did I enjoy punching the clock as a nameless director?

3. in fig. use, to die [implies ‘clocking off’ at the end of the day].

[US]S. Morgan Homeboy 109: When they transferred me stateside [...] I wanted to punch the Big Clock.
punch the wind (v.)

(US tramp) to ride on the outside of a train.

[US]J. London Road 132: The pilot of the head engine, because it ‘punched the wind’ I knew would be too cold; so I selected the pilot of the second engine, which was sheltered by the first engine.
[US] ‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 459: Punch the wind, To ride a train in a position where the full force of the wind strikes one.
[US]G. Milburn Hobo’s Hornbook xix: Crowded in this small space on the forward truck (on the rear truck he must ‘punch the wind’) the passenger stiff rides. [Ibid.] 242: ‘The Boomer’s Blues’: Mob up and flop down around me, / Punch wind with an old-time ’bo.