come out swinging

present singular third person comes out swinging · participle present coming out swinging · past came out swinging

1. idiomaticTo initiate an encounter or interaction by behaving in an unrestrainedly aggressive, confrontational, or accusatory manner.

   So ingrained is the instinct for massive retaliation that Downing St. came out swinging before mastering the facts.

   2002 February 25, J. F. O. McAllistair, “Blair the Bungee Jumper”, in Time

   1 more example

   New York baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, rolling up his sleeves and coming out swinging for the first time Monday, bluntly told Pete Rozelle to quit "kidding the people" about football being the nation's no. 1 sport.

   1972 February 1, “Kuhn Blasts Rozelle's Poll”, in Sarasota Herald-Tribune, page C1

2. idiomaticTo display spunk and strength of character, especially when rising above or when fighting back against trouble or adversity.

   She'd endured cruelty and grief and still came out swinging.

   2009, Julie Miller, chapter 9, in Out of Control, →ISBN

   1 more example

   There's ferment is Philadelphia where the ad agency with the oldest name in the business after a very bad year is picking itself up and coming out swinging.

   1967 February 26, Paul H. Dougherty, “Advertising: Oldest Agency Thinking Young”, in New York Times, page F16