MARCH 27, 2008 | To beat someone to the punch
To beat someone to the punch is not the same as to punch someone, which means to strike, hit someone with your fist.
To beat someone to the punch means to do something first, before someone has a chance to do it. Here's an example: "George wanted to invite Maria for coffee, but Thomas beat him to the punch by asking her first." George wanted to do something. Thomas did it first. He beat George to the punch. The term should always use the definite article "the" - it's not correct to say "to beat someone to a punch."
Since we're on the topic of punching, to punch someone out or to knock someone out means to hit someone so hard that the other person falls (and passes out/loses consciousness). EXAMPLE: "The boxer knocked his opponent out in the first round."
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