The difference between Fight and Punch-up

When used as nouns, fight means an occasion of fighting, whereas punch-up means a fight with the fists.


Fight is also verb with the meaning: to contend in physical conflict, either singly or in war, battle etc.

check bellow for the other definitions of Fight and Punch-up

  1. Fight as a verb (intransitive):

    To contend in physical conflict, either singly or in war, battle etc.

    Examples:

    "A wounded animal will fight like a maniac, relentless, savage and murderous."

  2. Fight as a verb (reciprocal):

    To contend in physical conflict with each other, either singly or in war, battle etc.

    Examples:

    "The two boxers have been fighting for more than half an hour."

  3. Fight as a verb (intransitive):

    To strive for; to campaign or contend for success.

    Examples:

    "He fought for the Democrats in the last election."

  4. Fight as a verb (transitive):

    To conduct or engage in (battle, warfare etc.).

    Examples:

    "The battle was fought just over that hill."

  5. Fight as a verb (transitive):

    To engage in combat with; to oppose physically, to contest with.

    Examples:

    "My grandfather fought the Nazis in World War II."

  6. Fight as a verb (transitive):

    To try to overpower; to fiercely counteract.

    Examples:

    "The government pledged to fight corruption."

  7. Fight as a verb (transitive, archaic):

    To cause to fight; to manage or manoeuvre in a fight.

    Examples:

    "to fight cocks;  to fight one's ship"

  1. Fight as a noun:

    An occasion of fighting.

    Examples:

    "One of them got stuck in a chokehold and got stabbed to death during the fight."

  2. Fight as a noun (archaic):

    A battle between opposing armies.

  3. Fight as a noun:

    A physical confrontation or combat between two or more people or groups.

    Examples:

    "Watch your language, are you looking for a fight?"

  4. Fight as a noun (sports):

    A boxing or martial arts match.

    Examples:

    "I'm going to Nick’s to watch the big fight tomorrow night."

  5. Fight as a noun:

    A conflict, possibly nonphysical, with opposing ideas or forces; strife.

    Examples:

    "I'll put up a fight to save this company."

  6. Fight as a noun (uncountable):

    The will or ability to fight.

    Examples:

    "That little guy has a bit of fight in him after all. As soon as he saw the size of his opponent, all the fight went out of him."

  7. Fight as a noun (obsolete):

    A screen for the combatants in ships.

  1. Punch-up as a noun (informal):

    A fight with the fists.

Compare words: