counterpunch
/ˈkaʊn.tə.pʌntʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkaʊn.t̬ɚ.pʌntʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpənch/ (ame, mw)
counterpunch — verb
- counterpunchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- counterpunches3rd person singular
- counterpunching-ing form
- counterpunchedpast simple
1. In boxing, to throw a punch back at your opponent immediately after they have th
In boxing, to throw a punch back at your opponent immediately after they have thrown one at you, using the opening their attack created.
Wei waited for his opponent to lead with a jab, then counterpunched with a sharp right hook.
counterpunch + with + body part (right hook)
The taller fighter kept backing away, looking for the right moment to counterpunch.
look for the right moment to counterpunch
A boxer who can counterpunch well often wins rounds even against an aggressive opponent.
- lead
to throw the first punch, the opposite of counterpunching
文法句型
counterpunch (no object)
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you do not 'counterpunch someone'; you counterpunch after or when they attack. A prepositional phrase (e.g., 'with a right hook') can follow to describe the type of punch.
常見錯誤
2. In sports, politics, business, or any competitive setting, to respond forcefully
In sports, politics, business, or any competitive setting, to respond forcefully right after an opponent has made a move against you, turning their action into an opportunity for your own attack.
When the senator accused her rival of wasteful spending, his team counterpunched by releasing the senator's own expense records.
counterpunch by + verb-ing (means or method)
Aisha's startup faced a price war from a bigger competitor, so she counterpunched by offering a free trial period.
The tennis star lost the first set but counterpunched brilliantly in the second, breaking her opponent's serve three times.
- strike back
slightly more formal; used in the same figurative contexts
- hit back
very similar in register and meaning
- retaliate
stronger connotation of revenge; can sound more aggressive
- back down
to withdraw instead of responding forcefully
文法句型
counterpunch + with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Extended from boxing, this sense appears in journalism and commentary about sports, politics, and business. Unlike the boxing sense, the 'method' is usually expressed as 'by + gerund' or 'with + noun phrase' rather than describing a physical blow.
常見錯誤
counterpunch — noun
- counterpunchsingular
- counterpunchesplural
1. A punch that a boxer throws in immediate response to a punch from an opponent, d
A punch that a boxer throws in immediate response to a punch from an opponent, designed to take advantage of the opening left by the attacker.
Dmitri's counterpunch landed squarely on his opponent's chin and sent him to the canvas.
land + counterpunch + on [body part]
The coach shouted instructions from the corner, telling Fatima to set up her counterpunch by slipping the jab first.
set up + a counterpunch
A clean counterpunch that catches the opponent off balance can end a match in a single round.
- return punch
less technical; plain description of the same action
- counterblow
more formal; less common in modern boxing talk
- jab
a lead punch (usually the first punch thrown, not a response)
文法句型
throw / land / deliver + a counterpunch
用法筆記
Often the object of verbs like 'throw', 'land', 'deliver', 'set up', and 'throw'. As a noun, it behaves like other strike-related count nouns.
常見錯誤
2. A strong response made in reaction to an opponent's move in sports, politics, bu
A strong response made in reaction to an opponent's move in sports, politics, business, or any competitive field, intended to regain the upper hand.
The editorial was a sharp counterpunch to the mayor's claims about the budget deficit.
a [adjective] counterpunch to + [person/claim]
Mei-Lin's social media post was a clever counterpunch that won public sympathy for her cause.
In trade negotiations, a well-timed counterpunch can shift the balance of power in your favour.
- surrender
the opposite of fighting back after an attack
文法句型
a counterpunch to / against + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used with a modifier: 'sharp', 'clever', 'well-timed', 'devastating', 'quick'. Without a modifier it sounds incomplete — the evaluation of the response is part of the meaning.