Definition of the word punch out

The term "punch out" originally referred to the process of extracting a small metal disc, called a "punch", from a machine or tool during production. This brass disc, usually featuring the initials of the worker or the company, was used as a sign of having completed a specific number of tasks or shifts. In the context of factory work, the term "punch out" eventually evolved to refer to the action of an employee leaving work for the day. This usage likely comes from the physical act of punching out the brass disc in a time clock machine, which signaled a worker's departure from work. As time clock machines grew less common, the phrase "punch out" has continued to be used more metaphorically to describe completing a task or finishing a project. In essence, a person "punches out" of a situation or commitment once it has been satisfactorily resolved or completed. In summary, the phrase "punch out" originated from the actual process of removing a brass disc from a machine during production, and has evolved to refer to the act of quitting work as well as completing tasks or projects.