ˈpunch-up slang.
Also without hyphen and as one word.
[f. punch v.1 + up adv.1]
A fight or brawl. Also fig., a fierce or noisy argument.
| 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights 28 The next morning after we had had this little punch up. 1960 H. Pinter Caretaker ii. 36 Bloke saved me from a punch up. 1963 K. Amis One Fat Englishman iii. 36 The fellow was earning a bigger and better punch-up, oral or physical, with every sentence he spoke. 1966 J. Wainwright Evil Intent 85 He's been responsible for more religious punch⁓ups than Judas himself. 1967 New Scientist 14 Dec. 673/1 Good old-fashioned punch-ups between the holders of rival theories, of the sort that so stimulated 19th century science, are sadly rare today. 1972 J. Wilson Hide & Seek viii. 151, I got six months..all because you ruzzers stuck your noses into a private little punch up. 1976 Daily Mirror 11 Mar. 9/6 He was fired after an alleged punch-up with another worker. 1978 Times Lit. Suppl. 25 Aug. 944/3 Boxing and pub punch-ups were his main amusements. |