1 knock
Pronounced:
/ˈnɑ:k/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
knocks; knocked; knock·ingMeaning:
1 [no obj] : to hit something (such as a door) with the knuckles of your hand or with a hard object (such as a knocker) in order to get people's attention ▪ I heard someone knocking (at the door). —usually + on ▪ I knocked on the door but no one answered. ▪ He knocked on the table to call the meeting to order. ▪ Campaign workers have been knocking on doors throughout the neighborhood. [=have been going to each house or apartment in the neighborhood to talk with the people who live there] —sometimes used figuratively ▪ a talented young singer who is knocking on the door of success [=who is very close to achieving success]
2 always followed by an adverb, adjective, or preposition [+ obj] : to hit (something or someone) in a forceful way ▪ The ball knocked him on the chin. ▪ knock one stick against another = knock two sticks together ▪ She knocked the glass from his hand. ▪ He knocked the baseball over the fence. ▪ The ball hit him in the mouth and knocked out one of his teeth. ▪ The wind knocked him backwards. ▪ The wind almost knocked him off his feet. = The wind almost knocked him to the ground. [=the wind hit him so hard that he almost fell to the ground] ▪ The collision knocked him unconscious/senseless. [=caused him to become unconscious] ▪ The collision knocked him flying. [=sent him flying through the air]
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to touch or hit someone or something in a way that is not planned or intended [no obj] ▪ The dog knocked against the lamp. ▪ My knee accidentally knocked against the table. ▪ Skaters were knocking into each other all over the ice. ▪ I kept knocking against him during the bumpy ride. = He and I kept knocking together during the bumpy ride. [+ obj] ▪ I accidentally knocked my knee against the table.
4 [+ obj] : to make (something, such as a hole) by hitting something ▪ He used a hammer to knock a hole in the wall.
5 [+ obj] informal : to criticize (someone or something) ▪ He's always knocking the government. ▪ Don't knock it until you've tried it. [=wait until you try something before criticizing it]
6 [no obj] : to produce a repeated loud noise ▪ The engine was knocking. ▪ The pipes were knocking.
2 always followed by an adverb, adjective, or preposition [+ obj] : to hit (something or someone) in a forceful way ▪ The ball knocked him on the chin. ▪ knock one stick against another = knock two sticks together ▪ She knocked the glass from his hand. ▪ He knocked the baseball over the fence. ▪ The ball hit him in the mouth and knocked out one of his teeth. ▪ The wind knocked him backwards. ▪ The wind almost knocked him off his feet. = The wind almost knocked him to the ground. [=the wind hit him so hard that he almost fell to the ground] ▪ The collision knocked him unconscious/senseless. [=caused him to become unconscious] ▪ The collision knocked him flying. [=sent him flying through the air]
3 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to touch or hit someone or something in a way that is not planned or intended [no obj] ▪ The dog knocked against the lamp. ▪ My knee accidentally knocked against the table. ▪ Skaters were knocking into each other all over the ice. ▪ I kept knocking against him during the bumpy ride. = He and I kept knocking together during the bumpy ride. [+ obj] ▪ I accidentally knocked my knee against the table.
4 [+ obj] : to make (something, such as a hole) by hitting something ▪ He used a hammer to knock a hole in the wall.
5 [+ obj] informal : to criticize (someone or something) ▪ He's always knocking the government. ▪ Don't knock it until you've tried it. [=wait until you try something before criticizing it]
6 [no obj] : to produce a repeated loud noise ▪ The engine was knocking. ▪ The pipes were knocking.
heart is knocking
informal ◊If your heart is knocking it is beating very hard, usually because you are nervous or excited. ▪ His heart was knocking in his chest.
knees are knocking
informal ◊If your knees are knocking they are shaking because you are nervous or afraid. ▪ Her knees were knocking in terror.
knock around also Brit knock about
[phrasal verb] informal 1 a knock around/about (a place) or knock around/about : to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place) ▪ He spent the summer knocking around (in) Europe. b knock around/about with (someone) Brit : to spend time with (another person) ▪ She was knocking around [=hanging around] with her brother.
2 a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time ▪ These ideas have been knocking around [=kicking around] for years. b knock around (something) or knock (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way ▪ We knocked the plan around for a while before we came to an agreement. ▪ They knocked around several possible names for the new car.
3 knock (someone) around/about : to beat or hit (someone) badly or repeatedly ▪ The boy was getting knocked around by bullies. —often used figuratively ▪ I really got knocked around at the last staff meeting.
4 chiefly Brit : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place ▪ That jacket is knocking about/around here somewhere.
2 a : to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time ▪ These ideas have been knocking around [=kicking around] for years. b knock around (something) or knock (something) around : to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way ▪ We knocked the plan around for a while before we came to an agreement. ▪ They knocked around several possible names for the new car.
3 knock (someone) around/about : to beat or hit (someone) badly or repeatedly ▪ The boy was getting knocked around by bullies. —often used figuratively ▪ I really got knocked around at the last staff meeting.
4 chiefly Brit : to be lying somewhere within a general area or place ▪ That jacket is knocking about/around here somewhere.
knock back
informal 1 knock (something) back or knock back (something) : to drink or swallow (an alcoholic drink) quickly ▪ He stopped at a bar after work to knock back a few beers.
2 knock (someone) back : to cost (someone) a lot of money ▪ That car must have knocked you back quite a bit. [=you must have spent a lot of money on that car]
2 knock (someone) back : to cost (someone) a lot of money ▪ That car must have knocked you back quite a bit. [=you must have spent a lot of money on that car]
knock down [phrasal verb]
1 knock (someone or something) down or knock down (someone or something) a : to cause (someone or something) to fall to the ground ▪ He hit him on the chin and knocked him down. ▪ The storm knocked down [=knocked over] several big trees. ▪ Rowdy fans knocked down the fence. ▪ We're planning to knock down [=remove, demolish] a wall to create a bigger room. b Brit : to hit and injure or kill (a person or animal) with a vehicle ▪ She was knocked down [=(Brit) knocked over, (US) hit] by a car while crossing the street.
2 informal a knock (something) down or knock down (something) : to reduce or lower (a price, an amount, etc.) ▪ They knocked down the price of the house by 10 percent. ▪ He wanted $50 for it but I managed to knock the price down to $45. b knock (someone) down : to cause or persuade (someone) to reduce a price ▪ He wanted $50 for it but I managed to knock him down to $45.
3 knock down (an amount of money) US informal : to receive (an amount of money) as income or salary ▪ He knocks down almost a million dollars a year.
4 knock down (a shot) or knock (a shot) down basketball : to succeed in making (a shot) especially from a long distance ▪ He was knocking down jump shots.
5 knock (something) down or knock down (something) chiefly US informal : to say no to (an idea, plan, proposal, etc.) : reject ▪ His boss knocked down [=shot down] all of his ideas.
6 knock (something) down or knock down (something) US : to take (something) apart ▪ We knocked the bed down so it would fit in the truck.
2 informal a knock (something) down or knock down (something) : to reduce or lower (a price, an amount, etc.) ▪ They knocked down the price of the house by 10 percent. ▪ He wanted $50 for it but I managed to knock the price down to $45. b knock (someone) down : to cause or persuade (someone) to reduce a price ▪ He wanted $50 for it but I managed to knock him down to $45.
3 knock down (an amount of money) US informal : to receive (an amount of money) as income or salary ▪ He knocks down almost a million dollars a year.
4 knock down (a shot) or knock (a shot) down basketball : to succeed in making (a shot) especially from a long distance ▪ He was knocking down jump shots.
5 knock (something) down or knock down (something) chiefly US informal : to say no to (an idea, plan, proposal, etc.) : reject ▪ His boss knocked down [=shot down] all of his ideas.
6 knock (something) down or knock down (something) US : to take (something) apart ▪ We knocked the bed down so it would fit in the truck.
knock heads
US informal 1 : to argue or disagree ▪ The two of them knocked heads soon after they started working together.
2 : to use angry or forceful methods to control or punish people ▪ I am going in there and knock some heads if they don't start behaving. —often + together ▪ I am going to go in there and knock their heads together if they don't start behaving.
2 : to use angry or forceful methods to control or punish people ▪ I am going in there and knock some heads if they don't start behaving. —often + together ▪ I am going to go in there and knock their heads together if they don't start behaving.
knock in [phrasal verb]
knock (a run or runner) in or knock in (a run or runner) baseball : to cause (a run or runner) to score ▪ He knocked in [=batted in, drove in] a run in the second inning with a double to left field.
knock off
[phrasal verb] informal 1 knock off or knock (something) off or knock off (something) : to stop doing something (such as work) ▪ We are going to knock off for lunch in 10 minutes. ▪ The boss said we could knock off early today. = The boss said we could knock off work early today. —often used as a command to tell someone to stop doing something immediately ▪ Knock off your fighting right now! ▪ I told you two kids to knock it off!
2 knock (something) off or knock off (something) a : to do or make (something) very quickly ▪ He knocked off 10 paintings in 4 days. ▪ We are planning to knock this project off in a weekend. b : to take (an amount) away from something ▪ He agreed to knock off 10 dollars from the price. [=to reduce the price by 10 dollars] ▪ This shortcut will knock at least 100 miles off the journey. c US : to steal money or things from (a bank or store) ▪ They knocked off [=knocked over] a jewelry store. d chiefly Brit : to steal (something) ▪ They knocked off a lot of valuable merchandise. e US : to make a cheaper copy of (something) ▪ Several other companies knocked off their dress design. —see also knockoff
3 knock (someone) off or knock off (someone) a : to kill (someone) ▪ He tried to knock off two men who owed him money. ▪ Did she really want to knock her husband off? b US : to defeat (someone) ▪ They knocked off the best team in the league.
2 knock (something) off or knock off (something) a : to do or make (something) very quickly ▪ He knocked off 10 paintings in 4 days. ▪ We are planning to knock this project off in a weekend. b : to take (an amount) away from something ▪ He agreed to knock off 10 dollars from the price. [=to reduce the price by 10 dollars] ▪ This shortcut will knock at least 100 miles off the journey. c US : to steal money or things from (a bank or store) ▪ They knocked off [=knocked over] a jewelry store. d chiefly Brit : to steal (something) ▪ They knocked off a lot of valuable merchandise. e US : to make a cheaper copy of (something) ▪ Several other companies knocked off their dress design. —see also knockoff
3 knock (someone) off or knock off (someone) a : to kill (someone) ▪ He tried to knock off two men who owed him money. ▪ Did she really want to knock her husband off? b US : to defeat (someone) ▪ They knocked off the best team in the league.
knock on wood —see 1wood
knock out [phrasal verb]
1 knock (someone or something) out or knock out (someone or something) a : to make (a person or animal) unconscious ▪ The drug knocked him out. ▪ The force of the collision knocked him out. [=knocked him cold] ▪ He hit his head against the table when he fell and knocked himself out. b boxing : to defeat (an opponent) with a punch that knocks the opponent down for a certain amount of time ▪ He was knocked out in the third round. —see also 1knockout 1 c : to defeat (an opponent) in a competition so that the opponent cannot continue ▪ My team was the favorite to win the championship, but we were knocked out (of the competition) in the third round. d baseball : to cause (a pitcher) to be removed from the game by getting many hits ▪ The starting pitcher was knocked out (of the game) in the fourth inning.
2 knock (something) out or knock out (something) a : to cause (something) to stop working ▪ Missiles knocked out the television station. ▪ The storm knocked out electricity across the state. b : to produce (something) very quickly ▪ a musical group that just keeps knocking out hit records
3 knock (yourself) out informal a : to make (yourself) very tired by doing work ▪ They knocked themselves out trying to build a garage. ▪ I knocked myself out [=I worked very hard] to get the job done on time. b US —used to tell someone to go ahead and do something ▪ “Do you mind if I use this exercise machine first?” “Knock yourself out.”
4 knock (someone) out informal : to make a very strong and good impression on (someone) ▪ Her beauty just knocks me out. [=I think she is very beautiful] ▪ Everyone was knocked out by his suggestion. [=everyone liked his suggestion very much] —see also 1knockout 2
2 knock (something) out or knock out (something) a : to cause (something) to stop working ▪ Missiles knocked out the television station. ▪ The storm knocked out electricity across the state. b : to produce (something) very quickly ▪ a musical group that just keeps knocking out hit records
3 knock (yourself) out informal a : to make (yourself) very tired by doing work ▪ They knocked themselves out trying to build a garage. ▪ I knocked myself out [=I worked very hard] to get the job done on time. b US —used to tell someone to go ahead and do something ▪ “Do you mind if I use this exercise machine first?” “Knock yourself out.”
4 knock (someone) out informal : to make a very strong and good impression on (someone) ▪ Her beauty just knocks me out. [=I think she is very beautiful] ▪ Everyone was knocked out by his suggestion. [=everyone liked his suggestion very much] —see also 1knockout 2
knock over [phrasal verb]
1 knock (someone or something) over or knock over (someone or something) a : to cause (someone or something) to fall to the ground ▪ The dog knocked over the lamp. ▪ The wind was so strong that it almost knocked her over. [=knocked her down] b Brit : to hit and injure or kill (a person or animal) with a vehicle ▪ The dog was knocked over [=(Brit) knocked down, (US) hit] by a car.
2 knock (someone) over or knock over (someone) informal : to greatly surprise or shock (someone) ▪ He was knocked over [=overwhelmed] by the news. ▪ When I found out I had won, you could have knocked me over with a feather. [=I was extremely surprised or astonished]
3 knock (something) over or knock over (something) US informal a : to steal money or things from (a bank or store) ▪ Three men knocked over [=knocked off] a bank. b : to steal (something) ▪ They knocked over a truckload of goods.
2 knock (someone) over or knock over (someone) informal : to greatly surprise or shock (someone) ▪ He was knocked over [=overwhelmed] by the news. ▪ When I found out I had won, you could have knocked me over with a feather. [=I was extremely surprised or astonished]
3 knock (something) over or knock over (something) US informal a : to steal money or things from (a bank or store) ▪ Three men knocked over [=knocked off] a bank. b : to steal (something) ▪ They knocked over a truckload of goods.
knock (someone) cold
: to cause (someone) to become unconscious ▪ He knocked his opponent cold with one punch. ▪ She was knocked cold [=knocked out] by the collision.
knock (someone) dead
informal : to make a very strong and good impression on (someone) ▪ Her performance really knocked the audience dead. [=the audience greatly enjoyed her performance] ▪ She told him to go out there on the stage and knock 'em dead.
knock (someone) for a loop —see 1loop
knock (someone) for six —see six
knock someone's head/block off
informal : to hit someone very hard ▪ I'm so angry I'd like to knock his block off.
knock (someone) sideways
Brit : to upset, confuse, or shock (someone) very much ▪ The news about his mother's accident really knocked him sideways.
knock some sense into —see 1sense
knock (something) on the head
Brit informal : to cause the end or failure of (something) ▪ The closing of the airport knocked our holiday plans on the head.
knock spots off —see 1spot
knock the (living) daylights out of —see daylight
knock the stuffing out of —see stuffing
knock together [phrasal verb]
knock (something) together or knock together (something) : to make or build (something) in a quick or careless way ▪ a rough table that was knocked together from old pieces of wood
knock up [phrasal verb]
1 knock (someone) up or knock up (someone) informal a chiefly US impolite : to make (someone) pregnant ▪ She got knocked up. [=she got pregnant] b Brit : to wake (someone) by knocking on a door ▪ knocked him up at 6 a.m.
2 knock (something) up or knock up (something) Brit : to make or produce (something) quickly ▪ knock up a quick meal
2 knock (something) up or knock up (something) Brit : to make or produce (something) quickly ▪ knock up a quick meal
knock your socks off —see 1sock