2 knock
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural knocksMeaning:
1 [count] a : a hard, sharp hit ▪ He gave him a knock on the head. b : the sound made by a hard hit ▪ There was a loud knock at the door.
2 [count] informal : an experience that makes you less confident or successful for a period of time : a difficult or painful experience ▪ She took some knocks early in her career. ▪ Most performers have their share of knocks [=setbacks] on their way to stardom. —see also hard knocks (below)
3 [count] informal : a critical or negative comment ▪ He likes praise but can't stand the knocks. —often used in U.S. English in the phrase the knock against ▪ The knock against her is that she can't win the important matches. [=people say that she cannot win the important matches] ▪ One of the knocks against television is that there are too many commercials.
4 : a loud noise produced by an engine when it is not working properly [count] ▪ We heard a knock in the engine. [noncount] ▪ a type of fuel that reduces engine knock
2 [count] informal : an experience that makes you less confident or successful for a period of time : a difficult or painful experience ▪ She took some knocks early in her career. ▪ Most performers have their share of knocks [=setbacks] on their way to stardom. —see also hard knocks (below)
3 [count] informal : a critical or negative comment ▪ He likes praise but can't stand the knocks. —often used in U.S. English in the phrase the knock against ▪ The knock against her is that she can't win the important matches. [=people say that she cannot win the important matches] ▪ One of the knocks against television is that there are too many commercials.
4 : a loud noise produced by an engine when it is not working properly [count] ▪ We heard a knock in the engine. [noncount] ▪ a type of fuel that reduces engine knock
hard knocks
: difficult or painful experiences that people have in their lives or careers ▪ He has taken plenty of hard knocks in his life. ▪ The school of hard knocks [=the difficult experiences in his life] taught him how to be tough.