pull no punches
Hold nothing back
To pull no punches is to hold nothing back—to be completely direct and forceful without softening the blow.
From boxing, where pulling a punch means restraining its force.
Someone who pulls no punches speaks bluntly or acts without restraint: The critic pulled no punches in her review.
He pulled no punches when describing the company's failures.
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- straight shooterForthright, blunt person
- honestFree from deception
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- directUndeviating or to guide
candid · no sugarcoating · straight · ruthless · harsh · unfiltered · brass tacks · raw · truth · gloves off · bare-knuckle · fierce · go for the jugular · confrontational · frank · call a spade a spade · outspoken · no holds barred
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- boxingjab, uppercut, hook, knockout, TKO
pull no punchespull punches
Deliberately moderate one's force
beat around the bush · sugarcoat · mince words · hedge · equivocate
pull no punchespull one's punches
Deliberately restrain criticism or force
hold back · tone it down · water down · temper · moderate
pull, pulls, pulled, pulling, puller, punch, punches, punched, punching