punch-up
1 of 2noun
ˈpənch-ˌəp 
chiefly British
: fistfight
punch up
2 of 2verb
punched up; punching up; punches up
transitive verb
: to give energy or forcefulness to
jokes added to punch up a speech
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1958, in the meaning defined above
Verb
circa 1959, in the meaning defined above
punch-ups
noun
as in fistfights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fistfights
- fisticuffs
- slugfests
- blows
- brawls
- confrontations
- melees
- affrays
- duels
- broils
- ruckuses
- jousts
- donnybrooks
- ructions
- altercations
- punch-outs
- squabbles
- scuffles
- quarrels
- tussles
- battles royal
- spats
- grapples
- mix-ups
- wrangles
- battle royales
- mêlées
- battles royale
- dustups
- free-for-alls
- battle royals
- disputes
- clashes
- handgrips
- skirmishes
- disagreements
- pitched battles
- tiffs
- controversies
- face-offs
- contretemps
- fights
- misunderstandings
- catfights
- tangles
- fallings-out
- fracases
- scrimmages
- battles
- falling-outs
- fracas
- cross fires
- arguments
- rough-and-tumbles
- contests
- rows
- combats
- kickups
- scrums
- conflicts
- struggles
- argle-bargles
- scraps
- argy-bargies
- frays
- hassles
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- truces
- stock exchange
- stock fire
- stock fly
- stock guard
- stock horse
- stock insurance company
- stock ledger
- stock list
- stock lock
- stock market
- stock melon
- stock option
- stock pass
- stock pea
- stock pigeon
- stock plant
- stock purchase warrant
- stock rail
- stock raiser
- stock raising
- stock record
- stock saddle
- stock shot
- stock solution
- stock split