punch down
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To attack or target a group that is weaker or of lower status than oneself.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The anti-vaxx movement punches down and punches hard. Its leaders tend to be men and women from wealthy backgrounds. […] They draw a large part of their audience from the poor, the poorly educated and ethnic minorities.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see punch, down.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “punch down” mean?
To attack or target a group that is weaker or of lower status than oneself.
Is “punch down” formal or informal?
punch down is generally slang.