pack a punch

English

Verb

pack a punch (third-person singular simple present packs a punch, present participle packing a punch, simple past and past participle packed a punch)

1. (informal) To be capable of throwing a strong punch.
   • 1930 June, Victor R. Daly, “Private Walker Goes Patrolling”, in The Crisis, volume 37, number 6, page 199:

     Memphis Bill was known to pack a punch.

   • 2009, Mary Fitzpatrick, Lonely Planet East Africa, Lonely Planet, page 77:

     If gorillas do fight, injuries can be very serious as these animals have long canine teeth and silverbacks pack a punch estimated at eight times stronger than a heavyweight boxer.

2. (informal) To be capable of having a swift and powerful effect.
   • 1942, Robert Allen Griffin, School of the citizen soldier: adapted from the educational program of the Second Army, Lieutenant General Ben Lear, commanding, D. Appleton-Century Company, Incorporated, page 500:

     They go in for statements, slogans, cartoons, pictures, and posters that "pack a punch."

   • 2003, Ronald A. Berk, Professors are from Mars, students are from Snickers: how to write and deliver humor in the classroom and in professional presentations, Stylus Publishing, LLC., page 30:

     Second, prepare the choices as one-liners. Each one should pack a punch and be so polished that it will jump off the screen into the minds of the audience and create a funny picture.

   • 2023 May 18, Christopher Clarey, “Even as He’s Out, Rafael Nadal Will Always Be a Part of the French Open”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     It was a poignant scene that packed quite a punch with both champions — and plenty of observers — in tears as Federer called it a career.

Usage notes

• Various adjectives may be used before punch to serve as intensifiers; for example, the forms pack a powerful punch, pack a serious punch, and pack a hefty punch are all well attested.

Synonyms

• (able to throw a punch): pack a wallop
• (have a powerful effect): pack a wallop