come out swinging
Launch immediate offensive
To come out swinging is to begin aggressively or forcefully, ready for confrontation.
From boxing, where a fighter emerges from the corner throwing punches rather than feeling out an opponent.
The phrase usually describes verbal combat: The senator came out swinging at the press conference, attacking critics before they could question her.
It suggests taking the offensive immediately rather than waiting to respond.
Inclined toward conflict
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- feistyAggressively spirited
fierce · forceful · assertive · bold · tenacious · unyielding · vigorous · energetic
combative
Inclined toward conflict
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
feisty · fierce · forceful · assertive · bold · tenacious · unyielding · vigorous · energetic · dynamic
retaliate
Respond to injury alike
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- backlashStrong negative reaction
pushback · defiance · resistance · repel · clash · challenge · defend · stand · vehemence · combativeness
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, in the running
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, punch, knockout
- success idiomshit the jackpot, strike gold, make it, rags to riches, hit it out of the park
come out swingingback down
Withdraw from a stance
hold back · retreat · shrink back · cower · pull punches
come out swingingtest the waters
Assess before fully committing
proceed with caution · tread carefully · dip one's toe in · play it safe · bide one's time
come, comes, coming, outing, outward, outwardly, swing, swings, swinging