Contents
- 1 English
- 1.1 Etymology
- 1.2 Pronunciation
- 1.3 Verb
- 1.3.1 Alternative forms
- 1.3.2 Synonyms
- 1.3.3 Antonyms
- 1.3.4 Translations
- 1.3.5 See also
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
.jpg "punch above one's weight - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (1)")
An allusion to a boxer who punches more powerfully than other boxers in the same weight class.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /pʌntʃ əˈbʌv wʌnz weɪt/
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb[edit]
punch above one's weight (third-person singular simple present punches above one's weight, present participle punching above one's weight, simple past and past participle punched above one's weight)
- (idiomatic) To (attempt to) achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments.
2008 December 11, David Charter, “Ireland takes a gamble on new Lisbon vote”, in The Times[1], London, retrieved 23 December 2009:
Ireland's current commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, is such a high-profile and outspoken figure who punches above his weight in Brussels in the important role of internal market commissioner.
2011 January 29, Chris Bevan, “Torquay 0 – 1 Crawley Town”, in BBC Sport[2], archived from the original on 14 January 2016:
Having spent more than £500,000 on players last summer, Crawley can hardly be classed as minnows but they have still punched way above their weight and this kind of performance means no-one will relish pulling them out of the hat in Sunday's draw.
- 2017 Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas
- I can see why you love her so much. You're definitely punching above your weight.
Alternative forms[edit]
Synonyms[edit]
Antonyms[edit]
Translations[edit]
achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments
- Bulgarian: надскачам се (nadskačam se)
- Czech: překročit svůj stín
- Finnish: ylittää kykynsä (overachieve), yrittää liikoja (try to)
- French: s’attaquer à plus fort que soi, s’en prendre à plus fort que soi
- German: über seine Grenzen hinaus wachsen
- Polish: występować lepiej, niż się oczekiwałoimpf, wystąpić lepiej, niż się oczekiwałopf
- Russian: пры́гнуть вы́ше головы́ (prýgnutʹ výše golový)
