Dictionary

punch down en · VERB

Meanings

1. (intransitive, slang) To attack or target a group that is weaker or of lower status than oneself.
   • The anti-vaxx movement punches down and punches hard. Its leaders tend to be men and women from wealthy backgrounds. […] They draw a large part of their audience from the poor, the poorly educated and ethnic minorities. 2021 January 30, Nick Cohen, “Anti-vaxxers posing as victims has a history. Look at Andrew Wakefield”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2023:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see punch, down.

Forms

Antonyms

punch up

Deriveds

punchdown (literal)