Meaning & use
punching bag
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A heavy bag that you hit for exercise or training, especially in boxing.
Grammar: Countable: one punching bag, two punching bags.
Patterns
- hit a punching bag
- train on a punching bag
He hangs a punching bag in his garage and works out every morning.
The gym has several punching bags for boxers to practice on.
She wrapped her hands before hitting the punching bag.
nouncountablefigurative
A person or group that repeatedly receives criticism or blame from others.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'be a punching bag for someone'.
Patterns
- be a punching bag for someone
- become a punching bag
After the scandal, the spokesperson became a punching bag for the media.
Teachers often feel like punching bags when parents are unhappy with school policies.
Word forms
| plural | punching bags |
|---|
Common combinations
- heavy punching bag
- He bought a heavy punching bag to build strength.
- speed punching bag
- A speed punching bag helps improve hand speed and timing.
- punching bag workout
- Her punching bag workout lasts thirty minutes.
- human punching bag
- He felt like a human punching bag after the meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- punchbag
- British English for the physical object; not used for the figurative sense.
- heavy bag
- A type of large punching bag used in boxing training; more specific.
Word family
Commonly confused: punching bag or punch bowl?
punching bag vs punch bowl
A large bowl for serving punch (the drink). Not related to hitting.
Practice
After the team lost, the coach became the ___ for angry fans.
Choose one answer.
'Punching bag' fits the figurative meaning of someone who receives criticism. 'Punch line' is the funny part of a joke, 'punch bowl' is for drinks, and 'punch card' is an old data card.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “punching bag”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.