sucker punch

plural sucker punches · alternative sucker-punch · alternative suckerpunch

1. alsofigurativelyAn unexpected punch or similar blow, on an opponent who is off guard or not active.

   “It was absolutely terrible,” [Richard] Spencer told CNN’s Sara Ganim by phone hours after the assault. “I’ve certain never had this happen before – a sucker punch in broad daylight.”

   2017 January 21, Paul P. Murphy, “White nationalist Richard Spencer punched during interview”, in CNN, archived from the original on 24 Mar 2023

   3 more examples

   Benjamin crossed his right, a short punch traveling less than six inches, as he and Murphy stepped back from the breakaway. Many of the spectators did not see the blow that laid the West Philadelphian low. It was a "sucker punch," as Nick Hayes would have it. Coming out of a clinch, Benjamin took one step backward, then stepped forward before Murphy lifted his arms, crossing his right simultaneously, and zowie-- it was curtains for one of the millions of heroes of the "Big Fight." Jimmy dropped back on his haunches. His eves appeared to be clear, and he knew what he wanted to do--but apparently couldn't do it.

   1919 December 9, Louis H. Jaffe, “Murphy Put Away by Blow on Break”, in Evening Public Ledger, volume VI, number 74, Philadelphia, Pa., archived from the original on 06 Nov 2016, page 19

   The Championship highflyers almost got their reward for a resilient performance on their first visit to the Emirates, surviving a flurry of first-half Arsenal chances before hitting back with a classic sucker punch.

   2011 January 8, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 11 Apr 2015

   The recorded audio of Vance telling donors at a fundraiser in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Saturday that “all of us were hit with a little bit of a political sucker punch” when the president, Joe Biden, withdrew from the 2024 race was leaked to the Washington Post.

   2024 July 30, Anna Betts, quoting JD Vance, “Vance reportedly told donors Harris was threat in new blow to Trump campaign”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 10 Aug 2024

2. A disabling punch targeting a place which is not normally acceptable in a "fair fight", such as on the back of the head.

   Synonyms: rabbit punch

3. An unprovoked or unwarranted blow with the fist.

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

1. transitiveTo deliver an unexpected blow.

   You never say, "I'm gonna fight you, Steve." You just smile and act natural, and then you sucker-punch him.

   2004, Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, spoken by Steve Zissou (Bill Murray)

   2 more examples

   We stared at each other for a moment. Then, without blinking, I sucker punched him as hard as I could. He fell but instantly came back at me, head down like a bull.

   1996, Larry Flynt, Kenneth Ross, An Unseemly Man, Los Angeles: Dove Books, →ISBN, page 57

   The threats never really bothered me. If someone is going to attack you, it will happen as you turn a street corner and get sucker punched.

   2020, Paul Orlousky, Punched, Kicked, Spat On, and Sometimes Thanked, Cleveland: Gray & Company, →ISBN