punch the air

punch the air (third-person singular simple present punches the air, present participle punching the air, simple past and past participle punched the air)

1. To do an air punch; to direct one's fist upward in joy or celebration.
   • 2022 December 23, Jack Seale, “Motherland Christmas special review – you’ll laugh, gasp in shock ... then punch the air”, in The Guardian‎:

     There’s plenty of that here, not to mention crying as you laugh and, on at least one occasion, defiantly punching the air as you laugh, when a payoff that has long been coming finally arrives.

• air punch

• “punch the air” (US) / “punch the air” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.