kidney punch

plural kidney punches · alternative kidney-punch

1. A blow struck with the fist to the lower back region, capable of causing serious internal injury and not permitted under the rules of boxing.

   These fees have ballooned. . . . That has hit advertising like a kidney punch.

   1991 September 22, “What Happened To Advertising”, in Businessweek, retrieved 06 Jan 2014

   2 more examples

   Following the bout, Schmeling said he was fouled. He said that he was hit a kidney punch, a devastating right, which so shocked his nervous system that he was dazed and his vision was blurred

   1938 June 22, James P. Dawson, “Fight, Might and Whata Right!”, in New York Times, retrieved 06 Jan 2014

   When the champion landed a vicious left-handed kidney punch early in the fourth, Azzaoui crumpled to the canvas.

   2007 November 4, “Awesome Calzaghe sets sights on Hopkins superfight”, in London Evening Standard, UK, retrieved 06 Jan 2014

present singular third person kidney punches · participle present kidney punching · participle past kidney punched · past kidney punched · alternative kidney-punch

1. To deliver such a blow.