BBB Etymology - Pleased as Punch

"Pleased as punch" refers to the classic British "Punch and Judy" puppet shows, which have been popular in Britain since the 1600's. Punch and Judy are husband and wife, and the standard Punch and Judy show involves a great deal of shouting and mutual clobbering (and, in the original Punch and Judy story, infanticide and multiple murders). Mr. Punch himself is a grotesque, hook-nosed hunchback who spends his time concocting a variety of evil plots. When Punch's wicked machinations go well, he struts and preens outrageously, and thus "pleased as Punch" or "proud as Punch" has meant to be very satisfied (especially self-satisfied) since around 1813.