ENGLISH
REFERENCE

knock out

idiom
Meaning

To strike or render unconscious


Examples
SIMPLE

The boxer knocked out his opponent in the first round.

CONTEXTUAL

A falling branch knocked out the power line, leaving the whole street in darkness.

COMPLEX

The anaesthetic swiftly knocked her out, and when she woke, the surgery was already complete.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    don't knock yourself out

    Don't overexert yourself (in doing something that does not require much effort).

  2. 02

    knock down a peg

    Synonym of take down a notch.

  3. 03

    knock for a loop

    To astonish; to stagger or overwhelm; to confuse or disorient.

  4. 04

    knock on heaven's door

    To die or be close to death.

  5. 05

    knock on wood

    To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted by a presumptuous statement.

  6. 06

    knock oneself out

    To go ahead; to do as one pleases; to enjoy oneself; to endeavor very hard at a task.

  7. 07

    knock out of the box

    To cause something to be replaced by something else.

  8. 08

    knock some sense into

    To reprimand or reform someone vigorously.

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