Coldcock Someone Meaning
Definition: To knock someone unconscious with a fist.
To coldcock someone is to punch that person hard enough that he or she passes out. Coldcocking someone is more serious than a regular punch because it implies that someone has passed out from the punch.
To coldcock someone is a vicious move. It would not ever be done in play. Coldcocking is a harsh and cruel move intended to cause a great amount of pain.
Origin of To Coldcock Someone
To coldcock someone may be written one of two ways: “coldcock” or “cold-cock.” Both function as verbs.
This is a slang term for punching. There is no definite origin of the phrase, but it has been in use since the early 1900s.
Examples of To Coldcock Someone
One may think of bar fights when thinking of coldcocking someone. Many movies also feature punches that show one person knocking another over by punching, so coldcocking is commonplace in movies.
It is possible to coldcock someone with something other than a fist also. One may coldcock another person with an object. For example, hitting someone over the head with a bottle would be coldcocking that person if he or she passed out.
Knocking a person over with a baseball bat, the butt of a pistol, or a heavy item such as a vase would be coldcocking that person.
More Examples
- …we have entered a period of the absolute manipulation of humans by humans: the objective correlative of total manipulation is coldcock murder. – Washington Post
- I wanted to coldcock the guy. Years ago, a central banker killed my partner. Instead, I shook my head. – The New Yorker
Summary
To coldcock someone is to punch someone hard enough that he or she passes out.
Contents