2knock noun
plural knocks 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
▪ He gave him a knock on the head.
b : the sound made by a hard hit
▪ There was a loud knock at the door.
▪ 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)
▪ 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.
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.
▪ 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.
