Language Matters | It’s a knockout: how the English language is rife with boxing metaphors
Everyday speech abounds with pugilistic expressions, and their significance continues to evolve in light of recent political events
Metaphors are pervasive in language. We think of time as money, arguments as battles and life as a race, classroom or stage.
More than just dramatic and evocative, metaphors allow us to draw on experience from one area of life in order to bring structure, reason and understanding to another.
Sports figure prominently in everyday language: we touch base (baseball) and we try not to drop the ball (rugby). The language of boxing, in particular, permeated English from the 19th century onwards.
We like to say that we will come out swinging, pack a punch and, hopefully, beat our opponent to the punch. But we must remember to play fair and not hit below the belt – a low blow is unsportsmanlike. There is a time to pull our punches and a time to let loose; give an honest opinion, even if it upsets or offends. And when the gloves are off, no restraint or mercy is shown.
By stunning our opponent with a blow for a 10-count, we hope to win by a knockout. The term quickly came to describe anything of striking beauty, but is most apt when admiring a woman. You knock yourself out, meanwhile, when making great effort in the task at hand.