come out swinging
The idiom "come out swinging" originates from boxing, where a fighter aggressively starts a match. It is now used more broadly to describe an assertive or forceful beginning in various contexts.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)To begin an encounter or activity with an aggressive or energetic approach.
Example
- Despite the criticism, she came out swinging in her speech to defend her policies.
- He came out swinging in the debate, challenging his opponent's views from the start.
B2Adversity
(informal)To react to trouble or challenges with immediate and forceful action.
Example
- After the setback, the team came out swinging and won the next game convincingly.
- Facing numerous obstacles, she came out swinging, determined to overcome every challenge.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "come out swinging":
swing forswing for the fenceshit outcome on strongswing outstrike a blowcome outcome to batcome to blowsgo to batlash outone-two punchbat outcome out withstraight outget one's claws outride with the puncheson the comeball outstrike backpunch output up one's dukesswinging dick