"Punch in the neck"

[Jim Parish]

In my youth, the favored expression of (mock-)serious violence involved
a threat to punch someone in the *nose*. Lately, though, it seems as
though the *neck* is now the favorite target. Does anyone know anything
about this change - when, where, why? It seems very recent to me, but of
course the Illusion of Recency needs to be guarded against. (Why the
*neck*? Surely the nose is a much more reachable and - when struck -
satisfying target?)

Jim Parish

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