An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'knock off', with lots of examples in context
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Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs!
'Knock off' is a largely informal phrasal verb in English. It has a variety of different meanings, including some that are very good and some that are very bad. In this post, I will explain all of the different meanings to you and provide lots of examples of each to help you learn and use these in your daily English. I've also included a section at the end with some common idioms featuring 'knock off' to really help you to sound like a native speaker. So, without further ado, let's make a start. Don't forget to leave a comment at the end with your own sentences of 'knock off'.
KNOCK OFF: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 6 |
Past tense forms | Knocked off / Knocked off |
Separable? | Yes |
THE BASICS
Let's begin our exploration of the phrasal verb 'knock off' by a quick analysis of what the individual words 'knock' and 'off' mean on their own.
The verb 'to knock' is a fairly common verb in English, whose main meaning is 'to hit something with force, often repeatedly'. This can be intentionally, usually in order to create a noise e.g. knocking a door, or it can be accidentally e.g. if you knock something or someone whilst you are walking because you do not see them...
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We knocked on the door but there was no answer, so we presumed that nobody was at home.
I was in a rush when I was leaving my house earlier and accidentally knocked the parcel shelf. I hope nothing fell off!
Moreover, 'to knock' is often used in conjunction with prepositional particles such as 'into', 'out' and 'off' to give more information about the 'knocking action', such as the consequence or direction...more on this shortly!
Next up, we have the prepositional particle 'off', which, has a large number of different applications and uses in English and functions as an adverb, preposition, adjective and even as a verb (albeit a rare one). Perhaps one of the most pertinent meanings of 'off' for the purposes of the phrasal verb 'knock off' is to denote physical separation or detachment from something, especially a surface. Aside from this, a key meaning of 'off' as an adjective is to describe a device or machine that is not on, connected or activated.
So, now that we have covered the basics, let's move onto the meanings of the phrasal verb 'knock off'...
MEANING 1: To remove something from a surface with force
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CEFR Language Level | B1 - Lower intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To push off, to dislodge, to displace |
Separable? | Yes |
For our first meaning of the phrasal verb 'knock off', let's keep it nice and simple and start things off with the literal meaning of the two words 'knock' and 'off', which gives us the meaning of 'to remove something from a surface with force'.
Firstly, as you can probably imagine, this application is concerned with items, things or people which are placed or sit on a surface such as a table, shelf or horse. If something then hits the object with enough energy to make it fall from the surface so that it is no longer on it, we can say that is has been 'knocked off' by the force. This can be either in an intentional or accidental way.
The cat jumped onto the table and knocked the glass bottle off, which then smashed on the floor.
As the thief was riding away, the villagers tried to knock him off his horse by throwing rocks at him.
I am so sorry. I accidentally knocked the picture off the shelf when I was cleaning and I've broken the frame.
In addition to things that are sitting or are situated on a surface, we can also use this application of 'knock off' for when a part of something is detached or disconnected from the rest of it by force.
The car's wing mirror was knocked off when the driver drove too close to the wall.
A tourist has been charged with criminal damage after he knocked the leg off of the statue of a horse in the town square.
Lastly, there are a couple of other less obvious uses that we can apply this meaning to. The first is with reference to our feet, as if something knocks you off your feet, it hits you with a lot of force, so that you fall to the ground (you are no longer on your feet). This can also be used to describe when you fall ill with something and you have to spend some time in bed or resting and lastly, in a non-literal way, to describe when you are affected very deeply by something in an emotional way or romantic way.
The explosion was so powerful that it knocked me off my feet and I was half a kilometre away from it.
The last time I caught Covid it knocked me off my feet for several days.
The shock of my parents dying knocked me off my feet. I was shell shocked!
The other time that you may hear this application of 'knock off' in use is with reference to lists and charts, particularly music charts. If something is in the number one position on the chart and then another song or item replaces it as the number one, we can say it 'knocks it off'....
After spending 8 weeks at number one on the UK singles chart, Michael Jackson's latest single has been knocked off the top spot by his sister Janet.
Lastly, this usage is separable and can be used both separably and inseparably without changing the meaning.
MEANING 2: To finish work
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CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To finish, to get off, to clock off |
Potential antonyms | To start work, to clock in |
Separable? | No |
For many of us, this second meaning of 'knock off' represents one of the best parts of our days or even weeks (if it is a Friday) as it means 'to finish work'.
Normally, we use this for when we finish work at the end of the day at the usual time, however it can sometimes be used just to talk about a specific time when you finish too, for example if you are finishing earlier or later then usual for some reason.
On a grammatical note, this usage of 'knock off' is not separable and does not take a direct object. It is often followed by the noun 'work' but this is not always necessary as the meaning is usually evident from the context.
What time do you usually knock off work?
I am knocking off a bit early today as I have a dentists appointment.
We start work at 9am and don't knock off until 6pm at the earliest.
This usage and meaning has quite a dark and sinister etymology as it dates back several centuries to the time when the Atlantic slave trade was still in existence. It is thought that when the galley slaves were forced to row the boats across the ocean, there was a man who would beat (or knock) a drum to create a rhythm for the rowers to follow. Once the beat stopped, the slaves could then stop rowing and rest, essentially stopping work.
MEANING 3: To reduce a price by a specific amount
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CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To reduce, to deduct, to subtract, to take off, to take away, to dock |
Separable? | Yes |
For the third meaning of 'knock off', we have another really positive meaning that everyone would appreciate and that is 'to reduce a price by a specific amount'.
This usage is definitely one for those amongst you who like to haggle or barter for the best price when buying something as if someone knocks an amount off a price, they reduce it and therefore give you a discount on the sale.
What you should remember for this meaning is that the amount or percentage that is reduced or 'knocked off' is normally required to be stated here and this functions as a direct object from a grammatical perspective. If the specific amount of reduction is not known, for example if you just want a lower price in general, non-specific words like 'a bit' or 'something' are often used instead.
There was a crack in the packaging on my new tool kit, so the shop owner agreed to knock 25% off the price for me.
The price is $10 for one but if you buy a pack of three, I will knock 10% off the price and you can have them all for $27.
£2000?! That's a bit expensive! Are you able to knock a bit off that?
In addition to prices, it is also possible to use this same application with time, especially when talking about the times of races etc. For example, if a runner breaks a world record by a second, you could equally say that he or she knocked a second off the world record.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently knocked almost half a second off her own world record in the 400m hurdles event at the Olympic Games.
MEANING 4: To produce something quickly
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CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Rare |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potentials synonyms | To dash off, to bang out |
Separable? | Yes |
The next meaning of 'knock off' is 'to produce something quickly' and can refer to anything that you make, produce or create. Primarily, though, it tends to be used with writing and creating written documents and work.
Normally, 'knock off' is used in this sense when a person creates something very hastily, with very little effort or in a short space of time. Oftentimes, we specify the amount of time that the 'knocking off' action took.
I wanted to go to the beach but I had to finish my report first, so I quickly knocked it off in a hour and went and met my friends.
The orchestra were able to knock the recording of the entire concerto off in a couple of hours.
How quickly do you think you could knock off a review of last night's concert?
In addition to producing something quickly, there is also a second usage of this application of 'knock off' that also exists. This one is a bit more negative however, as it means specifically 'to make a cheap copy or imitation of a product'. This is usually in an illegal way and tends to be done mostly by imitating high-end and luxury brand items that are made using much cheaper materials and therefore sold at a much cheaper price.
The gang has been knocking off fake Gucci bags for many years and many naive people have been fooled by them.
I don't think this watch is a real Cartier watch. I think it has been knocked off and it is a cheap imitation.
KNOCK-OFF AS A NOUN The usage of 'knock off' to describe fake or cheap imitation goods and products has given rise to the noun 'knock-off' (knockoff'), which is a name given to the fake products themselves.
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MEANING 5: To steal
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CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Rare |
Where is it used? | Mainly British English |
Potential synonyms | To rob, steal, to pilfer, to pinch, to knock over (US English) |
Separable? | Yes |
At the end of the last section, I explained how 'knock off' can be used in a negative and dishonest sense to mean 'to sell cheap imitations of expensive and luxury products' and this fifth meaning sticks with the negative and criminal theme as it means 'to steal something'.
Simply put, if you knock something off, you steal or rob it, i.e. take it from a shop, store, or less commonly, another person. This is not such a common usage however, and other synonyms such as 'to rob' and 'to steal' are in much more frequent use in everyday English.
Roger has knocked off a lot of tools and equipment from his local hardware store and he is going to sell it all online.
The thief managed to knock off $1000 worth of goods from the shopping mall in less than an hour.
You may also hear this application of 'knock off' being used in reference to shops and stores and banks, rather than specific items, especially in American English. This is because this application is also used for talking about stealing from a particular place, with the focus being placed on the establishment from where the goods were taken, rather than the individual stolen items.
The teenagers spent the morning knocking off different shops in the city centre.
The thieves' plan to knock off the bank was foiled by the police.
MEANING 6: To murder someone
Photo: Pexels
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Rare |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To murder, to kill, to do for, to do in, to do away with |
Separable? | Yes |
We started this article with some really nice and positive meanings, so firstly I'd like to apologise because we are ending it on a more unpleasant note. This is because this final meaning is 'to murder someone' and has the structure 'to knock someone off'.
Although 'knock off' is used here as a general synonym of 'to murder', it tends to be used specifically when the murder has been ordered by someone as the victim poses a threat to him or her in some way. As such, this is perhaps one that I hope you will never have to use in your own lives but it may be something that you come across if you enjoy watching English-language TV series and movies, particularly dramas about gangs, the mafia and politics etc.
I was really shocked when the main character of the series was knocked off at the end of the first season.
The man was murdered. His wife knocked him off when she found out that he was having an affair.
Do you think the victim was knocked off by another member or it was an accident?
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COMMON IDIOMS WITH 'KNOCK OFF'
Before I conclude this post, there are a couple of idioms and one extra usage that I want to make you aware of....
Knock it off! - This short command is often used by native speakers when they are annoyed or irritated by something that someone is doing and it functions as a request or an order for them to stop.
Knock it off! You are really getting on my nerves!
To knock someone's block off - This is a very aggressive idiomatic expression that is often used as threat to someone. In this sense, the word 'block' means a head and therefore this expression is used to mean when you hit someone's head, or physically attack them.
If you don't be quiet, I'm gonna knock your block off!
To knock someone's socks off - Lastly, this next idiom is much more positive and is used when someone is amazed or very impressed by something. If something knocks your socks off, you are astonished or shocked by in in a good way.
You wait until you watch this performance. It will knock your socks off!
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We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new.
Now it is YOUR turn. Can you think of a sentence yourself using 'knock off'. Write it in the comments section below if you can, or alternatively any comments, suggestions or feedback that you may have....don't be shy!!!
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Top-notch explanations! Thanks!