Rode the blow

[Bassim]

I have tried to used "ride a blow/ punch" in my sentences. Would you please take a look at my sentences and correct my grammar and punctuation?

1. The heavy-set man swung his right, but John rode the blow and hit him in the head, knocking him down.
2. The man threw his left at her, but she managed to ride the punch and kicked him in the groin.

 

[Bassim]

I am wondering if my 2. sentence would sound better if I replaced "...and kicked him in the groin" with " kicking him in the groin.

The man threw his left at her, but she managed to ride the punch, kicking him in the groin.

 

[tedmc]

I think the original is better as those are two separate, unrelated actions, which "and" works better.

 

[tedmc]

I don't feel any significant difference between the two.

Doesn't the continuous tense imply a simultaneous, related action?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've heard "roll with the punch." I've never heard "ride the punch." It's not an Americanism.

 

[Amigos4]

I agree with Charlie! To 'ride a blow/punch' does not sound natural to me.

 

[tedmc]

As a alternative phrase, what about "cushion the blow"?

 

[tedmc]

That has a different meaning.

How else do you describe it since it is considered to be an archaic term?

 

[emsr2d2]

Who says "cushion the blow" is an archaic term?

 

[tedmc]

Who says "cushion the blow" is an archaic term?

"Ride the blow" is, according to Piscean.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Who says "cushion the blow" is an archaic term?

No one. It just means something else.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Their heyday has passed. Ngram

I think it's also a Britishism. I've really never heard it. In the US, we roll with punches. (If we're smart, agile, and lucky.)