Dictionary

punch above one's weight en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /pʌntʃ əˈbʌv wʌnz weɪt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

An allusion to a boxer who punches more powerfully than other boxers in the same weight class.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To (attempt to) achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments.
   • Ireland's current commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, is such a high-profile and outspoken figure who punches above his weight in Brussels in the important role of internal market commissioner. 2008 December 11, David Charter, “Ireland takes a gamble on new Lisbon vote”, in The Times, London, retrieved 23 Dec 2009:
   • Northampton is a town of just 30,000 people, with only five distinct neighborhoods. But stats like that obscure the fact that Northampton has long punched above its weight, culturally. 2025 August 19, Jeanne Bonner, “This independent haven is a ‘tangibly different’ college town”, in CNN, archived from the original on 30 Dec 2025:
   • Having spent more than £500,000 on players last summer, Crawley can hardly be classed as minnows but they have still punched way above their weight and this kind of performance means no-one will relish pulling them out of the hat in Sunday's draw. 2011 January 29, Chris Bevan, “Torquay 0 – 1 Crawley Town”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 14 Jan 2016:
   • 2017 Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas I can see why you love her so much. You're definitely punching above your weight.

Forms

Antonyms

punch below one's weight · underachieve

Relateds

outkick one's coverage · out of one's league · bite off more than one can chew

Synonyms

overachieve

Translations (12)

cmn 出類拔萃 /出类拔萃 (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · fr s'en prendre à plus fort que soi (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · ru пры́гнуть вы́ше головы́ (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · fi ylittää kykynsä (overachieve) (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · fi yrittää liikoja (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · bg надскачам се (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · pl wystąpić lepiej, niż się oczekiwało (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · fr s'attaquer à plus fort que soi (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · pl występować lepiej, niż się oczekiwało (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · de über seine Grenzen hinaus wachsen (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · cs překročit svůj stín (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments) · es coger cajita (achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments)