pull punches | Idiomator

Meaning: (originallyboxing)To avoid using a high level of force whenpunching.2017, Mark D Bishop,Zen Odyssey, An Okinawan Karate & Martial Arts Journey, Lulu.com,→ISBN, page228:Traditionally on Okinawa (if 'traditionally' is the right word to use), protectors had been worn during sparring practise because the trainees believed that, to be effective, one should not train topull punches.; (figuratively,chiefly in the negative)Toactwithreserve;especially, towordsomethingdelicatelyto avoid givingoffenseor incitinganger.Synonym:hold backNear-synonym:mince wordsI did notpullanypuncheswhen I told them my thoughts.2005, Nick Morgan,Give Your Speech, Change the World: How To Move Your Audience to Action, Harvard Business Review Press,→ISBN, page78:The key here is not topull punches. Tell it to 'em straight. Don't point fingers. But don't avoid painful truths.2010, Kenneth J. Heineman,Catholic New Deal: Religion and Reform in Depression Pittsburgh, Penn State Press,→ISBN, page75:Father Charles Owen Rice was not one topull punches, particularly when it came to confronting what he viewed as hypocritical behavior among Catholics.2017February 1, Neil Bartlett, “The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis review – a childhood in hell”, inThe Guardian‎[1],→ISSN:This arresting autobiographical novelpulls no punches; rather, it lands them on the reader as frequently as fists descend on its subject.2021February 10, Thomas L. Friedman, “Cyberspace Plus Trump Almost Killed Our Democracy. Can Europe Save Us?”, inThe New York Times‎[2],→ISSN:A few weeks ago, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, released an open letter thatpullednopunches.2024April 3, Philip Haigh, “Discord over Avanti West Coast is part of a wider problem”, inRAIL, number1006, page52:Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnhampulled no punchesin March 20's Transport for the North board meeting in Leeds. He wants rid of Avanti West Coast. And he may yet get his way, although ministers in London are holding the line at the moment.

Examples:

EN: I'm not gonna pull punches.
ES: No voy a andar con rodeos.
EN: So you don't pull punches.
ES: ¿Por qué no eres menos severa?
EN: They don't pay me to pull punches.
ES: No me pagan no ser severa.
EN: Don't pull punches.
ES: Soy muy directa.
EN: Politics here are different. and you can see she doesn't pull punches.
ES: Aquí las políticas son diferentes y como podrás ver ella no anda sacando a golpes a nadie
EN: I'm a journalist. Journalists don't pull punches.
ES: Soy periodista, los periodistas no atacan.
EN: Journalists don't pull punches.
ES: Los reporteros dicen lo que piensan.
EN: Yeah, I figured it wasn't time to pull punches.
ES: Si, me imaginé que no era hora de jugar a medias.
EN: You don't pull punches.
ES: No lanzar golpes.
EN: I don't pull punches.
ES: No tire golpes.
EN: I can't pull punches.
ES: ¿Cree que me preocupo por ustedes en este momento?
EN: You never pull punches when it comes to reporting.
ES: Nunca baja la guardia cuando está reportando.
EN: Who people respect. Who won't pull punches.
ES: A quien la gente respeta, a quien no le gusta dar puñetazos.
EN: I don't pull punches because you're a woman
ES: Te gano sin la lástima de que seas mujer.
EN: You don't pull punches, as always.
ES: Sin piedad, como siempre.

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