punches above its weight

[suprunp]

Nightlife
Cardiff
City clubs, waterfront bars and restaurants, plus a live music scene that punches above its weight.
(Discover Great Britain)

What exactly is it supposed to mean?

Thanks.

 

[5jj]

Although it appears to be lightweight - in not not seem to have much depth or influence, it actually has a powerful effect.

 

[SoothingDave]

In boxing, the competitors are segregated according to how much they weigh. You wouldn't normally have a 120 pound man fighting a 200 pound one. Someone who punches above their weight carries an impact that you would expect from a bigger man.

 

[BobK]

:up: This is one of many boxing metaphors: 'set back on their heels', 'below the belt'/'low blow' (='unfair'), 'the gloves are off', 'not at their fighting weight, 'keep your guard up'... If you do some ferreting you can probably find other threads where such metaphors are discussed in this forum.

b

 

[BobK]

A few more:

Lead with your jaw (=invite defeat)
Have a glass jaw (=have a particularly vulnerable area) - The Blondie song 'Heart of Glass' extends this idea.
Walk into [an attack] - often this is just walking into something, like a wall or a trap. But when the thing walked into is a blow, it's the boxing-related metaphor.
Take something on the chin (=accept that a setback is inevitable)
...

b