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Packs more punch

Posted by ESC on July 29, 2001

In Reply to: Packs more punch posted by R. Berg on July 27, 2001

: : What exactly the phrase "packs more punch" means and where it came from???

: : Thanks!

: The definitions of "punch" in the Dict. of Amer. Slang include "Force; meaning; pungency." Presumably the idea is "impact" and the origin is boxing. To pack a punch is to have the potential to cause a major impact, as a fighter's fist does. A typical nonliteral use: A fiery brand of taco sauce would pack more punch than its mild competitor.

I couldn't find the phrase "packs more punch" in my general phrase books or in a sports phrase book. Is there an illegal practice of packing a boxing glove? I seem to remember a cartoon image of nails and horseshoes falling out of a glove.

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