Inf. give [s.o.] the third degree.
pun, n. play on words, equivoque, Rhet. paronomasia, Fr. jeu de mots, Fr. calembour, double-entendre, equivocation; witticism, clever expression, bon mot.
punch1, n. 1. blow, jab, Inf clip, U.S. SI. biff, box, Boxing, left or right, uppercut, stroke, knockout, SI. sockdolager; buffet, cuff, Inf. bop, strike, hit, knock, thump, SI. sock, bust, Scot. dunt, Scot. and North Eng. paik; thwack, Inf. whack, slap, swat, Dial. hit upside the head, smack, Inf. clout, SI. conk, SI. bash; beat, Inf. whomp, Inf. wallop, Brit. Dial, douse, Brit. Dial. yerk.
-v. 2. jab, Inf clip, box, Boxing, throw a left or right, take a poke at, uppercut, hit, strike, Boxing. knock out, smite; knock, cuff, buffet, thwack, Inf. whack, Dial, hit [s.o.] upside the head, slap, swat, smack, Australian, ding, Scot. dunt, Scot. and North Eng. paik; SI. nail, U.S. SI. biff, Inf. bop, Inf. clout, Inf. slug, Inf. knock [s.o.'s] block off, Inf. wallop, Inf. crown, SI. conk; SI. bash, SI. belt, SI. smash, SI. sock, SI. plug; Inf trim, Inf. thump, Inf. lace, Inf. lambaste, Inf. whale, SI. whomp; beat, batter, pound, lay on, pommel, pummel, pelt, thrash, SI. paste, Archaic. belabor.
3. poke, prod, push, elbow, bump, stick, dig into.
punch2, n. 1. paper punch, hole punch, perforator; awl, Carpentry, bradawl, sewing awl, (in goldsmith work) puncheon, drill, brace and bit.
-v. 2. perforate, hole, honeycomb, bore, drill,
pink, puncture, pierce, riddle.
punctilio, n. 1. fine point, particular, detail, formality, form; nicety, delicacy, subtlety, refinement.
2. convention, rule, standard, usual or customary practice, observance, code, custom, usage, manner; decorum, the thing, etiquette, propriety; duty, dictate, ethic, rule of conduct, moral.
3. conformity, rigid adherence, discharge of duty; exactness, exactitude, particularity, strictness, punctiliousness, meticulousness; conscientiousness, fastidiousness, scrupulousness, preciseness, precision; squeamishness, finicalness, finickiness, inflexibility.
punctilious, adj. formal, correct, decorus, proper, conventional; strict, rigid, stiff, starched; exact, precise, accurate, close; meticulous, scrupulous, conscientious, careful; particular, finical, finicky, picky, fussy, hard to please; critical, exacting, demanding, painstaking, fastidious; minute, detailed, fine, nice, thorough, searching; scientific, mathematical, severe, rigorous.
punctual, adj. 1. prompt, on time, when expected; timely, seasonable, in good time, early, Inf. bright-and-early, well-timed; immediate, instant, instantaneous; rapid, fleet, meteoric, quick, swift, brisk, expeditious, Inf. Johnny-on-the-spot; direct, summary, fast. 2. regular, constant, cyclic, steady, systematic, regular as clockwork.
punctuality, n. 1. promptness, promptitude, punctualness; timeliness, seasonableness, earliness; readiness, quickness, alacrity, haste, dispatch, expedition.
2. regularity, constancy, steadiness.
punctuate, v. 1. interrupt, interfere, intrude, obtrude; intersperse, interpose, interpolate, insert, interject, wedge in, put in; cut in, break in, barge in, Inf. butt in, Inf. horn in, Inf. muscle in, Inf. chisel in; interspace with, interfuse, incorporate, interweave, interwind; pepper, scatter, sprinkle; talk out of turn, cut short, Inf. chip in, Inf. chime in, Inf. put in one's two-cents worth.
2. emphasize, stress, lay stress or emphasis on, give emphasis to, accent; underline, underscore, point up, italicize, call attention to, mark, bring home, press home; feature, highlight, spotlight, play up, give prominence to, bring to the fore, bring into relief, Inf. headline, write in gold.