" I punched the cell off, flung both arms in the air in mock exasperation, and..."
Does "punch off " mean "switch off" or "throw away" or "hit on" the cell phone?
Does "punch off " mean "switch off" or "throw away" or "hit on" the cell phone?
punch off?
Imagine the person stabbing the buttons with an angry finger.... actually, it's a common expression to say that one "punches" the keys on a keypad, even when there is no aggression in the act.