1knock 
/ˈnɑ:k/ verb
knocks; knocked; knock·ing /ˈnɑ:k/ verb 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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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]
▪ He used a hammer to knock a hole in the wall.
▪ He's always knocking the government. ▪ Don't knock it until you've tried it. [=wait until you try something before criticizing it]
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ The boy was getting knocked around by bullies. — often used figuratively ▪ I really got knocked around at the last staff meeting.
▪ 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]
▪ He stopped at a bar after work to knock back a few beers.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ He knocks down almost a million dollars a year.
▪ He was knocking down jump shots.
▪ His boss knocked down [=shot down] all of his ideas.
▪ 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.
▪ The two of them knocked heads soon after they started working together.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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!
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ 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.
▪ 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
▪ 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.”
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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
▪ 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
▪ She got knocked up. [=she got pregnant]
b Brit : to wake (someone) by knocking on a door
▪ knocked him up at 6 a.m.
▪ knock up a quick meal
knock your socks off — see 1sock
