to the punch

phrase

: to the first blow or to decisive action

—usually used with beat

Examples of to the punch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The connection to ego may help explain why rejections are so painful, even for people who had already been contemplating ending their relationship—but then their partner beat them to the punch. — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

McDonald's was actually beaten to the punch by Jack in the Box, which debuted breakfast in 1969 with the Breakfast Jack, a sandwich with egg, cheese and ham. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Another Gulf Coast gateway could beat it to the punch depending on the speed of development. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026

The Spencer actress revealed during an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show that Meyer beat her to the punch with the proposal. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for to the punch

• brunch
• bunch
• chinch
• crunch
• hunch
• lunch
• keypunch