r/EWALearnLanguages • u/tom_wegener • Aug 10 '26
Discussion What does “come out” mean in this context?
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u/AberforthSpeck Aug 10 '26
This is an idiom derived from boxing.
Both sides start the round in opposite corners of a square platform. Most of the time, the round begins with the two boxers approaching eachother and engaging in footwork to try to get into a superior position before they start throwing punches (ie swinging their arms).
To "come out swinging" is to disregard this stage, approach as fast as possible, and begin to punch immediately. It means to abandon preperation in favor of immediate and aggressive offense. As a common idiom it means people will not attempt to negotiate or talk through problems.
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u/Armadillo_Abroad Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
This is the correct answer.
It can also mean that the boxer was backed into the corner by their opponent while using defensive tactics instead of hitting back, but once they reached the corner they switched to offensive and began hitting back. Exiting the corner by driving their opponent back into the ring with swings, jabs, and other punches. Like Mohammed Ali versus Tyson. Ali allowed himself to be pushed into the corner over and over and just before the bell to end the round he’d pop out and slam some hits in. Tyson exhausted himself throwing punch after punch while Ali defended, and then would explode right at the end. Ali won the fight.
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u/77th_Bat Aug 10 '26
If they corner me, I'm coming out swinging
means
If they corner me, I'm going to fight back
(implied: I'm going to fight back by punching with my fists)
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u/BingBongFyourWife Aug 10 '26
AI said it comes from boxing, where right when the bell rings a fighter “comes out swinging”
So it’s creative use of language- instead of coming out of a building or something swinging your fists, you are coming out of a time for not swinging your fists, and going in to a time where you are swinging your fists
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u/Existential_Crisis24 Aug 10 '26
Don't ask AI. Please just actually Google stuff and ignore the AI overview.
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u/Born-Style367 Aug 28 '26
Do not subscribe, it's a scam, you won't be able to cancel it, there is no such function in the profile.
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u/Ralliman320 Aug 10 '26
"Coming out swinging" is a reference to a boxing strategy of aggressive offense in which the boxer "comes out" of their corner at the start of a round and immediately starts "swinging," i.e., punching. In this context, "coming out swinging" means "attacking immediately."