What Does Punching Mean in the UK? Luca’s ‘Love Island’ Meltdown Explained

When you’re marooned on Love Island for as long as the Season 8 cast has been, you can run out of things to talk about. Take punching, for instance. In Episode 57 of Love Island Season 8, which just dropped on Hulu, the Islanders get hung up on who’s punching and who isn’t punching — so much so that they collectively say the word “punching” a whopping 22 times in two and a half minutes.

So what gives? Did everyone just become boxing enthusiasts all of a sudden? Seriously — what the hell is punching and why was Luca so plucked when he was said to be the one throwing punches?

What does punching mean in the UK?

In UK slang, “punching” is short of “punching above one’s weight.” That’s a phrase you’ve heard before in America, for sure, but the Brits use it for shorthand meaning that someone’s dating out of their league. See? Brits say “punching,” Americans say “out of their league.”

This is why Luca, easily the most stubborn and prideful hottie in the villa, was completely taken aback when Paige suggested that he was punching above his weight by coupling with Gemma. Instead of agreeing with this statement — Luca should agree that his quasi-GF is hotter than him — like any reasonable person would, he takes major offense to this and turns it around on Paige. Paige does the completely normal thing and agrees that yeah, she is punching with Adam — because she agrees that the guy she’s coupled with is super hot. She does clarify that she has a much better personality, and Adam agrees.

This whole argument is so ridiculous that Paige excuses herself from it rather quickly, when it becomes apparent that Luca’s pride would never allow him to admit that anyone, not even the woman he’s dating, is hotter than he is. The argument continues poolside when Gemma asks Luca if he thinks he’s punching, to which Luca responds, “Don’t be fucking stupid.” Class act, right there! He’s prettier and smarter than you, Gemma!

The argument goes nowhere, as Luca takes what should be a no-brainer way of complimenting the woman he’s with and instead uses it to insult her. And if you think things get better for Luca and Gemma in the latest batch of Love Island UK episodes, think again! These two always choose chaos before they choose each other.

Hulu adds new episodes of Love Island UK Season 8 daily at 3:00 a.m. ET. The season finale of Love Island Season 8 will premiere on Hulu on Tuesday, August 16.