Reverse Dictionary: BOXING

ADJECTIVES
1681 • FISTY pert. to fists, or their use in boxing
1749 • MUFFLED wearing boxing gloves
1806 • FISTIC concerned with the fists or their use in boxing
1811 • PUNISHING in boxing: hard-hitting
1816 • PINKED in boxing: marked or damaged by a physical blow or blows → sl.
1818 • SCIENCED well versed or trained in boxing
1822 • FANCY pert. to boxing or prize-fighting → sl.
1882 • PUGILANT given to boxing or fighting
1897 • STAND-AWAY in boxing: involving a fighting stance at a relatively great distance from one’s opponent, rather than at close quarters → sl., obs.
..L19 • GYPE looking like a boxer or a boxer’s clothes, etc. → tailors’ usage
..20C • FLASH relating to gamblers and followers of boxing and racing → colloq.
1904 • PUNCHLESS of a boxer; lacking a powerful punch
1911 • PUNCH-DRUNK having a concussion caused by repeated blows to the head; said of a boxer → orig. US
1914 • SOUTHPAW of a boxer: leading with the right hand, and guarding with the left
1919 • TELEGRAPHED of a punch: initiated in a way that makes one’s intention obvious
1920 • ON ONE’S BICYCLE retreating from an opposing fighter, fighting a defensive fight, dodging and stepping back from blows → US prizefighting usage
1923 • RING-RUSTY out of practice; below par, esp. after a long absence from professional fighting; said of a boxer 
………. • RINGWISE skilled in the art and tactics of boxing
1947 • CAULIFLOWERED in boxing; having a disfigured ear or ears
1960 • PEEKABOO designating a manner of fighting in which a boxer repeatedly protects his face with his gloved hands, and then suddenly delivers a punch which takes his opponent by surprise
1981 • SOFT DOWNSTAIRS weak in the midsection → Amer. boxing usage

ADVERBS
1894 • DOWN AND OUT of a boxer, fighter, etc., who has been knocked to the floor and is unable to continue fighting: ‘out for the count’ → colloq., orig. US
1900 • DOWNSTAIRS in boxing: in or ro the belly or midriff → sl.

NOUNS
1656 • PUGILATION fighting with the fists; boxing → obs.
1747 • MARK in boxing: the pit of the stomach → sl.
………. • MUFFLERS boxing gloves → Hist. usage
………. • MUFFLES boxing-gloves → obs.
1749 • THE NOBLE ART boxing
1757 • BRUISING-MATCH a boxing match, esp. one conducted without gloves → arch.
1770 • DART a straight-armed blow → sl.
1778 • THE NOBLE SCIENCE • THE NOBLE SCIENCE OF DEFENCE boxing
1788 • PUGILISM fighting with the fists; boxing
1789 • BODY BLOW a heavy punch to the torso
………. • SHIFTING a keeping out of range of one’s opponent by moving around the ring → obs.
1791 • NEIVE boxing, fisticuffs, sparring → Sc.
..19C • FANCY-LAY the sport of boxing; prize-fighting → sl.
1805 • DISTANCE in boxing: the maximum range at which a boxer can land an effective punch
………. • RALLY in boxing: a sustained exchange of blows
1807 • THE FANCY the world of professional boxers; followers of prizefighting → sl.
1810 • RAINBOW in boxing: a bruise → sl., obs.
………. • TURN-UP a boxing contest
1811 • MUZZLER in boxing: a blow on the mouth → sl., obs.
1812 • BOXIANA writings, information, or other items relating to boxing and boxers
………. • NOB in boxing: a blow to head → obs.
………. • RUFFIANING brutal boxing, without regard to rules → obs.
1814 • HAND-MUFF a boxing glove → obs.
………. • RIBBER in boxing: a blow on or about the ribs → sl.
………. • SPAR a boxing match; a display of boxing
………. • TELLER a telling blow → sl., obs.
1816 • IN-FIGHTING boxing at close quarters; the practice of getting close up to an opponent
1818 • HEADER in boxing: a blow to the head → obs.
………. • TIE-UP a knockout blow → sl.
1819 • MUZZLING a hitting a person in the mouth → boxing sl., obs.
1820 • PEPPER a severe beating inflicted during a boxing match → sl., obs.
1821 • MUGGER a blow to the mouth or face → Brit. boxing sl., obs.
………. • THROTTLER in boxing: a blow or punch delivered to the throat → sl., obs.
1823 • BROUGHTON’S MARK in boxing: the pit of the stomach → sl.
………. • RUFFIANOSITY boxing without regard to rules → obs.
1829 • STAGE a boxing ring
1840 • FISTIANA matters relating to the fists an boxing
………. • THROATER in boxing: a blow to the throat → obs.
1841 • BREAKAWAY an instance of contestants separating, or being separated by the referee, after a spell of close fighting
1848 • NOBBLER in boxing: a blow to the head → obs.
1843 • BARNEY a boxing match in which the result has been arranged fraudulently in advance
………. • SAVATE a form of boxing originating in France in which the feet are used as well as the fists
1849 • RUBY in boxing: blood → sl., obs.
.M19 • NOBBINGS a collection of money, esp. money tossed into a boxing ring after an amateur or boys’ fight → sl.
1850 • JAB an abrupt blow with the fist → sl.
1851 • RIPPER a knockdown blow → sl.
1859 • MITTEN-MILL a fight with boxing gloves → sl., obs.
………. • MITTENS boxing gloves → sl.
1863 • AUCTIONEER a knockdown blow → Amer. sl.
………. • AUCTIONEER a pugilist’s fist → Eng. sl.
1866 • ROUGHING in boxing: the use of rough or foul tactics
1868 • STAND-UP a match in which the combatants stand up fairly to one another without flinching or evasion → colloq., obs.
1875 • CLINCH in boxing: a grappling at close quarters or holding after an exchange of blows
1877 • MITT a boxing glove
1882 • BARNEY a prize-fight → sl.
………. • PILLOWS boxing gloves, esp. soft ones for use in sparring and training → sl., orig. & chiefly US
………. • QUEENSBERRY RULES a code of rules drawn up in 1867 to govern the sport of boxing in Great Britain; the standard rules of modern boxing
1887 • CATCHWEIGHT in boxing: an agreed weight that does not fall within a standard weight class
………. • RIGHT AND LEFT an attack consisting of a blow delivered with the right hand followed by a blow with the left hand
………. • WAP a pugilistic fight → Sc.
1888 • RINGCRAFT skill in boxing or wrestling 
1897 • DISTANCE the scheduled length of a bout in boxing
………. • LOW BLOW a punch below the belt in boxing, in contravention of the rules
1898 • OUTER a knockout blow
..20C • CHINA CHIN a prizefighter’s jaw that cannot stand a hard punch → Amer. sl.
1902 • HAYMAKER a hard swinging blow → Amer. boxing sl.
1904 • SCIENCE skill in boxing → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 • SCRAP a boxing match
1908 • JOLT a blow in boxing
1909 • CAULIFLOWER EAR a boxer’s ear thickened and distorted by blows
………. • STRAIGHT a powerful punch made with elbow straightened
1910 • SWING in boxing: a punch delivered with a sweep of the arm
1911 • KAYO • KO a knockout → US sl.
1913 • SWEET SCIENCE the sport of boxing, esp. regarded as a discipline requiring trained skill → sl.
1914 • RABBIT PUNCH in boxing: an illegal blow delivered to the back of the head
1917 • BUTTON the point of the chin, considered as a target for a punch → boxing sl.
1920 • CRUISER-WEIGHT for professionals: a weight of more than 11 stone 6 lb. but no more than 12 stone 7 lb.; for amateurs: a weight of more than 11 stone 11 lb. but no more 12 stone 10 lb
1925 • FACE-LIFTER an uppercut to the jaw → boxing sl.
1926 • MILL a pugilistic contest → US sl. (Bk.)
1927 • HEAD SHOT in boxing: a blow to the head
………. • THE SQUARED CIRCLE a boxing ring → US sl.
1929 • INSIDE WORK boxing, fighting
………. • SUNDAY PUNCH a very hard and effective blow or assault with the first or otherwise → boxing sl.
1933 • SLUG-FEST in boxing: a hard-hitting contest → US sl.
1936 • LEATHER a boxing glove; hence boxing → sl.
1938 • PUG-GLOVE a boxing glove → sl.
1942 • MONEY PUNCH a knockout blow → Amer. sl.
1950 • KILL in boxing: a knockout → colloq.
………. • SNAP-BACK in boxing: a swift backward movement of the body to evade an opponent’s blow
1952 • BOLO in boxing: a slow, high overhand or sidearm punch, as opposed to a short, fast direct jab → US sl.
1954 • BANTAMWEIGHT a standard weight division for professional boxers weighing more than 8 stone, but no more than 8 st. 6 lb.; and for amateurs weighing more than 8 stone but no more than 8 st. 7 lb.
1967 • BOX-OFF a series of boxing matches fought to decide a championship, competition, etc.
1969 • PUNCH-OUT a boxing match
1975 • ROPE-A-DOPE a tactic in boxing, whereby a boxer rests against the ropes and protects himself with his arms and gloves, goading an opponent to throw tiring ineffective punches → sl.

NOUNS, PERSON
..700 • KEMP a professional fighter, wrestler, etc.; a champion 
1320 • CAMPION a professional fighter, pugilist; one who fights in single combat as a trial of strength or bravery → obs.
1483 • BUFFETER a boxer, one who buffets
1612 • MILLER a pugilist; a boxer → sl., obs.
1646 • PUGIL a person who fights with his fists; a boxer → obs.
1662 • CUFFER a boxer or fighter 
1740 • PUGILIST a boxer, a fighter
1744 • BRUISER a professional boxer, a prizefighter → sl.
1765 • KEMPERY-MAN a prize-fighter; a professional fighter → obs.
1787 • BOTTLE-HOLDER a second responsible for a contestant’s water bottle during a boxing match
1790 • HARD HITTER a boxer capable of striking with force
1791 • RUFFIAN a boxer who fights to win, without regard to rules → obs.
..19C • DEVELER a celebrated boxer; a dexterous young fellow → Sc.
1805 • ROUND HITTER a boxer who typically delivers round, rather than straight, punches → obs.
1811 • GLUTTON a boxer who is a ‘glutton for punishment’ → boxing sl.
1812 • BIT OF STUFF a prize-fighter → sl.
………. • NULLING COVE a prize-fighter → sl.
………. • TEASER an opponent difficult to tackle or overcome → boxing sl.
1814 • SPARRER a person who boxes or spars → colloq.
1815 • Q-IN-THE-CORNER COVE a keen follower of boxing → sl.
1819 • GENTLEMAN OF THE FIST a boxer → sl. obs.
1821 • NOBBER a boxer skilled in delivering blows to the head → boxing sl., obs.
………. • RECEIVER-GENERAL a boxer who receives more blows than he gives → sl.
1823 • HAMMER a strong puncher → UK boxing sl.
………. • HITTITE a prize-fighter; one who fought in and patronized the Prize Ring → sl.
………. • MOULDER a lumbering boxer, one who fights as if he were moulding clay → sl. (Bk.)
1824 • HAMMER MAN a strong puncher → UK boxing sl.
1825 • DEVELLER a talented boxer → Sc. & Eng. dial., obs.
………. • THE PET OF THE FANCY a favourite boxer → obs.
1827 • FANCY COVE a boxer → sl.
1829 • WEAVER a boxer who weaves from side to side as a tactical move
1834 • FIST-MATE an opponent in a boxing match
1847 • FANCY MEN patrons of the ring and cock-pit 
………. • MIDDLEWEIGHT a boxer who completes in a weight class usually falling between welterweight and light-heavyweight
.M19 • RASPING GANG toughs and thieves who attend prize fights → sl.
1852 • PEELER a person ready to strip for a fight → sl.
1855 • PUG a prizefighter; a boxer; a pugilist → sl.
1859 • SPARRING GILL a boxer, usually a sparring partner → US sl.
1860 • HANDER a second or assistant in a prize fight → sl. obs.
………. • RING-KEEPER a person responsible for keeping order in a ring at a prizefight 
1879 • HANDLER the trainer or second of a boxer; a person who assists a boxer between the rounds of a fight → boxing sl.
………. • SPARRING BLOKE a boxer, usually a sparring partner → UK sl.
1880 • HEAD ROBBER a boxer, a prizefighter → sl.
1882 • BASHER a pugilist; a person who gives, or strikes with, a smashing blow 
1885 • LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT a boxer who competes in a weight class usually falling between welterweight and middleweight
1887 • LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT a boxer who competes in a weight class traditionally falling between middleweight and heavyweight
1888 • BEEFER a second-rate boxer → US sl.
………. • HAM an incompetent boxer or fighter → US sl.
………. • HEAVYWEIGHT a professional boxer weighing over 12 st. 7 lb.
1889 • FEATHERWEIGHT a boxer who is very light
………. • GLOVE-FIGHTER a promoter of glove-fighting; one of the principals concerned in a glove-fight 
1890 • MORGAN RATTLER a good boxer; a hard or reckless fighter → Eng. dial.
1891 • BATTLER a boxer → Eng. dial.
………. • KEMPER a prize-fighter; a professional fighter → Sc.
1892 • LIGHT-HEAVY a boxer who competes in the weight class light-heavyweight, traditionally falling between middleweight and heavyweight
1895 • MILLING COVE a boxer, a prizefighter → Aust. criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
1896 • PUNCHING-BLOCK a person who receives a lot of punches
………. • SLAUGHTERER a powerful fighter or boxer
………. • WELTERWEIGHT a boxer whose weight is between a lightweight and a middleweight
1899 • HEAVY a heavyweight boxer 
………. • RING MAN a boxer → chiefly US
..20C • MAN-EATER a pugilist; an exceptionally strong, tough fellow → Brit. sl.
1902 • RINGSTER a boxer → US
1904 • JABBER a boxer; a prizefighter → US sl.
………. • LIGHT WELTER a boxer competing in as weight class usually between lightweight and welterweight
1905 • LEFT JABBER a boxer whose characteristic punch is the left jab
1906 • BIFFER a boxer; one who hits → sl.
………. • MITT PUSHER a boxer → US sl.
1908 • PUSHOVER a boxer who is easily knocked out or beaten → boxing sl.
………. • SPARRING PARTNER a pugilist employed to keep another in practice while training for a contest 
1910 • HAM AND EGGER an average or incompetent boxer → US sl.
………. • SOUTHPAW a boxer who leads with the right hand and guard with the left
1911 • WHITE HOPE a White prize fighter who may be good enough to win a championship → Amer. sl.
1917 • BUM an unskilled or second-rate boxer → sl., depreciative usage
………. • SUPERHEAVY a superheavyweight boxer
1919 • HAMFATTER a second-rate boxer → US sl.
………. • PUCKER a boxer, a fighter → Ireland
1920 • MAULER • MAWLER a boxer, esp. one renowned for hitting hard → US sl.
1921 • BALONEY • BOLOGNY • BOLONEY an inferior prizefighter → US sl.
1922 • LIGHT FLYWEIGHT a boxer who competes in a weight class falling below flyweight
1923 • DANCING-MASTER a boxer continuously ‘dancing about’ → sl.
………. • DIVER a boxer who loses a bout deliberately → US boxing sl.
1924 • BOXER-PUNCHER a boxer who combines power with quick, long-range punches and good defensive moves
1926 • BOX FIGHTER a boxer → Amer. sl.
………. • ROUNDHEEL a prizefighter who is knocked out or defeated easily → US sl.
………. • SET-UP a fighter who can be easily defeated by his opponent – with the implication that he has been deliberately chosen on these grounds → colloq., orig. & chiefly US
1928 • CHOPPING-BLOCK a boxer who sustains steady punishment
1929 • RING-WORM a person who regularly attends boxing matches → US sl.
1930 • WATERBOY a useless boxer who accepts money to lose fights → US sl.
………. • WATERMAN a useless boxer who accepts money to lose fights → US sl.
1931 • PALOOKA • PALUKA an unskilled prizefighter; a roving boxer who lives in the past → US sl.
………. • POWDER PUFF • POWDER-PUFF HITTER an easy-hitting boxer; a feeble or ineffectual boxer → Amer. sl.
1932 • COUNTER-PUNCHER a boxer whose style is characterized by countering after an opponent’s punch is thrown → orig. US
1934 • DOG a prizefighter who lack aggressiveness or spirit in competition → US sl.
………. • SATCHEL FEET a heavyweight prizefighter → Amer. sl.
………. • WISE GUY a boxing expert → US sl. (Bk.)
………. • WONDER MAN a boxer from a foreign country → US sl. (Bk.)
1937 • SPARMATE a sparring partner → US
1938 • UMBRELLA a cowardly boxer; one who cannot take the punches → US sl.
1939 • SAUSAGE a prize fighter, esp. an inept prize fighter whose face is swollen, bruised, or scarred from severe beatings in the ring → Amer. sl.
1940 • CHINA CHIN a boxer who can easily be knocked out → Amer. sl.
………. • LIGHT a lightweight → Amer. boxing sl.
1942 • ARM PUNCHER a boxer who does not put his weight into his punches → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • BOX KING a champion boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • BUTTERCUP an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • CAULIFLOWER ROW champion prize fighters → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • CAVALIER an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • CHAMP PUG a champion boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • CREAM PUFF an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • ETHEL an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • FEATHER-DUSTER an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • FISTIC CHAMPION a champion boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • HITCHY-COO an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • KAYO CHAMP a champion boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • LADYFINGER an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • LEATHER PUSHER an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • LORD OF THE HEAVIES a heavyweight boxing champion → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • MABEL an easy-hitting boxer  → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • PRETTY an easy-hitting boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • RING CHAMP a champion boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • RING SCRIBE a boxing sports-writer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • WHO’S WHO OF FISTIANA champion prize fighters → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1945 • BEARCAT a good prizefighter; one with plenty of gumption → criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
………. • CATCHER a boxer who ‘catches everything the other guys throws at him’ → US sl.
1947 • TANKER a boxer who intentionally loses fights, usually after accepting money from crooked gamblers → criminals’ sl.
1948 • SPOILER an inferior boxer who sets out to disrupt his opponent’s style
1949 • DANCER a boxer who evades the opponent rather than engaging him → US sl.
………. • FANCY DAN a boxer noted for cleverness rather than hitting ability → Amer. sl.
1955 • TOMATO CAN an inferior or second-rate boxer → boxing sl.
1970 • HEADHUNTER a boxer who punches mainly to the head and rarely throws a body punch → US sl.
1971 • MINI-FLYWEIGHT a boxer competing in a class weighing up in 105 pounds
1974 • PUNK an inferior prizefighter, jockey, pool player, etc. → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 • BAG-PUNCHER a boxer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
………. • BLEEDER a boxer who is prone to bleeding → US sl.
………. • CUT MAN the member of a boxer’s entourage responsible for treating cuts between rounds → US sl.
………. • HAMBURGER a badly scarred and often beaten prize fighter → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1977 • BANGER an aggressive boxer → US sl.
1980 • GLADIATOR a prizefighter → Amer. sl. (Bk.)

PHRASES
1936 • ON ONE’S BICYCLE going backward in the ring to avoid an opponent → US boxing sl.

VERBS
1785 • DARKEN HIS DAYLIGHTS to close up a man’s eyes; to give him a black eye → boxing sl.
1810 • PINK in boxing: to strike with the fist so as to break the skin or leave a visible mark → sl.
1811 • SPOIL to damage seriously in boxing → sl.
1812 • COME UP SMILING in boxing: to get on one’s feet after being knocked down, or return to the ring following a tough round → sl.
1812 • SLING to strike or launch out in boxing
1814 • LUNGE to in boxing: to deliver a straightforward blow
………. • PIPE in boxing: to breathe hard, to pant from exertion → sl., obs.
1817 • RUFFIANIZE to fight without regard to the rules of the sport → obs.
1818 • MUG in boxing: to strike in the face → sl.
1819 • FISTICATE to box, to fight with fists → Amer. dial.
1821 • HIT OUT OF TIME in boxing: to knock out → colloq.
………. • KNAP IT → NAP IT to receive severe punishment in a boxing match → sl.
1822 • SEND TO DORSE to throw on one’s back, to throw down → boxing sl.
1825 • DORSE to throw on the back → boxing sl. obs.
1826 • TINKER in boxing: to batter or maul an opponent → sl., obs.
1829 • BUNG UP THE EYES in boxing: to close up the eyes → sl.
1831 • KNOCK OUT OF TIME in boxing: to knock out → colloq.
1834 • SCUTTLE A PERSON’S NOB in boxing: to break his head → sl.
1845 • SEND TO THE GRASS to knock down → boxing usage
1849 • HAGGIS to bruise, to cut up → Eng. dial., boxing usage
.M19 • DAB THE PAINT to jab with the fist → boxing sl.
1860 • CLINCH in boxing: to grapple at close quarters or hold after an exchange of blows
1874 • SCRAP to box → sl.
1875 • SCIENCE to box → Eng. dial.
1881 • TAKE STOUSH in boxing: to receive a beating → sl.
1895 • STOP in boxing: to defeat an opponent by a knockout → orig. US
1897 • GO THE DISTANCE of a boxer: to complete the full scheduled length of a fight without being knocked out
1898 • RIP in boxing: to strike swiftly and strongly with the fist → colloq.
..L19 • CHOP TO PIECES  to defeat severely → Aust. boxing sl.
..20C • TAKE THE GAS to endure punishment in a boxing ring → sl.
1903 • TIE UP to knock out → boxing sl.
1907 • PULL in boxing: to strike a blow with less than full force
………. • SKY THE TOWEL of a boxer or his second: to throw a sponge or towel into the ring so as to signal defeat → boxing sl.
1909 • BE SAVED BY THE BELL to be saved from being counted out by the ringing of the bell at the end of a round
1910 • ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES of a boxer: to move the body, esp. the head, away from the opponent’s blows so as to lessen the impact
………. • TAKE A DIVE to deliberately lose a fight → boxing sl., orig. US
1913 • TELEGRAPH in boxing: to initiate a punch in a way that makes one’s intention obvious
1915 • BLIND WITH SCIENCE in boxing: to overcome an opponent using greater skill → Aust. sl.
1916 • PASS A JOLT in boxing: to deliver a short, sharp blow
………. • SKY THE WIPE of a boxer or his second: to throw a sponge or towel into the ring so as to signal defeat → boxing sl.
1919 • PLASTER in boxing: to strike with repeated heavy blows → sl.
1922 • LEAD WITH ONE’S CHIN to clumsily allow oneself to be knocked down by a blow to the chin → Amer. boxing sl.
………. • OUTPOINT in boxing: to defeat on points
………. • TAKE IT ON THE CHIN to be hit squarely on the chin; hence, to suffer serious reversal, loss, etc. → Amer. boxing sl.
1923 • GO IN THE TANK in boxing: to lose intentionally, esp. as part of a pre-arranged plan; to throw a fight → colloq., orig. & chiefly US
1925 • HAVE ROUND HEELS of a boxer: to be easily knocked out → sl., orig. & chiefly US
1928 • BOB AND WEAVE of a boxer: to move the head and body constantly up and down and from side to side as an evasive tactic
1930 • STARCH in boxing: to defeat by knockout → colloq., orig. & chiefly US
………. • THROW LEATHER to box, to fight, esp. with gloves → US sl.
1936 • TELEGRAPH ONE’S PUNCHES to let an opponent know one’s intentions inadvertently → US prizefighting usage
1937 • PUNCH ONE’S WEIGHT in boxing: to punch with the maximum force possible for a person of one’s weight; to fight as effectively as one can
1938 • TAG in boxing: to strike an opponent, esp. with a powerful blow → sl., orig. US
1940 • DO A POWDER to lose deliberately → boxing sl.
………. • SPLASH to lose a fight voluntarily, usually in return for payment; said of a boxer → US sl.
………. • TAKE A POWDER to lose deliberately → boxing sl.
1949 • BICYCLE to jog backward from an opponent in the ring → US boxing sl.
1951 • ROLL WITH THE BLOWS of a boxer: to move the body, esp. the head, away from the opponent’s blows so as to lessen the impact
1954 • SMOTHER to prevent, by clever positioning of the arms, the development of an opponent’s attack → boxing usage
1971 • PUT A FACE ON to batter and injure the face of → US boxing sl.
1975 • PUT THE BEE ON SOMEONE to knock out an opponent → US prizefighting usage., arch. (Bk.)
1979 • DECISION to win a boxing match by a decision of the judges as opposed to with a knockout → US sl.