roll with the punches

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to adapt to difficulties, setbacks, or unexpected challenges in a flexible and resilient manner, absorbing adversity without being overwhelmed; the phrase comes from boxing, where a skilled fighter learns to move their body in the direction of an incoming punch to reduce its impact rather than absorbing it rigidly; used more broadly to describe the attitude of someone who handles life's inevitable blows with composure and practicality rather than panic or rigidity