put one's fist to
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To sign one's name to.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[…] Just remind him of the paper I signed at his request, and I fancy there'll be no trouble."
"I'll try, but I know he'll never put his fist to such a thing. Why , it would raise the very devil if it ever leaked out! […]
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).
Common questions
What does “put one's fist to” mean?
To sign one's name to.
Is “put one's fist to” formal or informal?
put one's fist to is generally slang.