Meaning of sucker punch | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An unexpected punch or similar blow, on an opponent who is off guard or not active.
   also, figuratively
2. A disabling punch targeting a place which is not normally acceptable in a "fair fight", such as on the back of the head.
3. An unprovoked or unwarranted blow with the fist.

Examples

“Benjamin crossed his right, a short punch traveling less than six inches, as he and Murphy stepped back from the breakaway. Many of the spectators did not see the blow that laid the West Philadelphian low. It was a "sucker punch," as Nick Hayes would have it. Coming out of a clinch, Benjamin took one step backward, then stepped forward before Murphy lifted his arms, crossing his right simultaneously, and zowie-- it was curtains for one of the millions of heroes of the "Big Fight." Jimmy dropped back on his haunches. His eves appeared to be clear, and he knew what he wanted to do--but apparently couldn't do it.”

“The Championship highflyers almost got their reward for a resilient performance on their first visit to the Emirates, surviving a flurry of first-half Arsenal chances before hitting back with a classic sucker punch.”

““It was absolutely terrible,” [Richard] Spencer told CNN’s Sara Ganim by phone hours after the assault. “I’ve certain never had this happen before – a sucker punch in broad daylight.””

“The recorded audio of Vance telling donors at a fundraiser in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Saturday that “all of us were hit with a little bit of a political sucker punch” when the president, Joe Biden, withdrew from the 2024 race was leaked to the Washington Post.”

CEFR level