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May L. Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

punch

Can anybody help me?

Does 'punch in the face' always mean hitting with the fist, or if this happens during a game of football or volleyball, could it mean that the ball hit someone?

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hi May-- welcome to English Forums. I would reserve punch for the action of a human or sub-human fist, and say that she was hit in the face with a spiked volleyball .

— Mister Micawber

  • Hi May-- welcome to English Forums.
  • I would reserve punch for the action of a human or sub-human fist, and say that she was hit in the face with a spiked volleyball .
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6 Answers
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Hi May-- welcome to English Forums.

I would reserve punch for the action of a human or sub-human fist, and say that she was hit in the face with a spiked volleyball.
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...spiked volleyball...
Now that would be a sport worth playing, MM.

MrP
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Thank you for your kind welcome, MrM, and for the explanation. What made you think it was a she?
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May's a girl's name, but I try to offer a fair distribution of gender in pronouns in my writing anyway.
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Actually, MrM, you've been right on both accounts: I'm female and so was the person who was hit (but, luckily, it wasn't me!). The incident happened during a Quidditch practice, when Ron broke down and punched Demelza Robins. I just had my doubts about Ron being able to strike a girl with his fist. Thought she might have been struck by the Quaffle. On consideration, though, it was hardly probable,
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Frankly, it sounds a bit sissy-ish, May.

If there isn't a fleet of ambulances taking the teams to hospital at the end of the game, it isn't a game, as far as I'm concerned...

MrP
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