‘As pleased as Punch’
If you’re pleased as Punch, it has nothing to do with a drink; instead it refers to a terrible puppet character named Mr. Punch.
“Punch and Judy shows,” which have been popular in England since the 17th century and are commonly found at British seaside resorts, feature short scenes in which Judy often falls victim to Punch’s physically abusive behavior.
The puppet shows have declined in popularity since the second half of the 20th century, the phrase describing Punch’s gleefulness at causing havoc lives on.
