pull punches (English, verb)
expansion: pull punches (third-person singular simple present pulls punches, present participle pulling punches, simple past and past participle pulled punches)
Senses:
glosses: To avoid using a high level of force when punching.
glosses: To act with reserve; especially, to word something delicately to avoid giving offense or inciting anger.
tags: figuratively
raw_tags: in the negative
Forms:
form: pulls punches
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: pulling punches
tags: participle
present
form: pulled punches
tags: participle
past
form: pulled punches
tags: past
form: pull one's punches
tags: alternative