Skip to main content
to knock

to knock

593 5.3
To criticize someone or something without a good reason
  • verb
  • /nɑk/
  • Informal
translation icon : criticar
  • You want to knock him off, don't you?

And again, I'm not knocking proxy testing.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Smart screenwriters take the familiar and knock it off balance just a bit.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Too many things can happen at this stage to knock the process off course.

    Academic text (1991)
  • And I'll tell you what, people again who knock them are jealous of them.

  • So, knock it off.

  • If you don't tell them to knock it off, I'll flood the containment area.

  • Kael's criticism always challenges the filmmaker: Astonish me; knock me out; but also tickle me.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Don't knock it until you have tried it; you might really enjoy it.

  • When people knock the band, they often haven't listened to their music.

  • She was quick to knock the proposal before fully understanding it.

Synonyms

to criticize
vsto knock
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

is often informal and unfair rather than neutral or objective
to pick apart
vsto knock
  • Informal
14 5.2

To find faults in ideas or work by pointing out small problems

is more about general fault finding than detailed, systematic critique
to take potshots at
vsto knock
  • Offensive
4 8.1

To make quick, unfair critical remarks about someone or their ideas

is general fault finding, not limited to casual mocking remarks
to pick at
vsto knock
3 5.7

Keep finding small faults in someone or their ideas

is broader criticism rather than continual petty fault finding
to knock down a peg
vsto knock
  • Informal
3 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

is general fault finding, not specifically aimed at lowering pride
to throw brickbats
vsto knock
  • Literature
8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is often milder or informal rather than a harsh public attack
to rap someone’s knuckles
vsto knock
  • Informal
8.1

To tell someone they are wrong in a mild, formal way

is informal or unfair criticism rather than a mild formal reprimand

Antonyms

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Idioms

3 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

1 8.7

To surprise someone very much and leave them speechless

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

To make someone feel very tired, weak, or sad

1 7.9

To defeat the person or team at the top and take their place

To hit or shock someone so they feel dazed

To sell a lot of movie tickets

To be hit so hard that you fall and cannot get up

knock on wood
  • Informal
6.8

You say it to avoid bad luck after saying something good

To hit someone very hard or to shock someone very much

Phrasal Verbs

to knock it off
  • Informal
321 8.1

Tell someone to stop doing something annoying

210 4.3

To make someone unconscious by a hit, illness, or being very tired

93 3.0

Use force to make someone or something fall to the ground

To hit a door with your hand to get people inside to notice

68 2.6

Make something fall by hitting or bumping it

64 3.8

To break or remove something by force, often by hitting it

57 3.2

Make a building or wall fall down suddenly

46 3.4

To remove someone or something from a competition by defeating them

35 9.9

To make a woman pregnant

19 9.9

Kill someone as part of a crime

to knock out
  • Informal
18 4.7

To impress someone strongly so they feel admiration

15 9.9

To make someone pregnant, said informally

12 4.3

Lower the price by a set amount

To make someone unconscious by hitting them

to knock off
  • Slang
7 8.4

Steal things, for example electronics or cars

Make the electricity go off by damaging power lines or equipment

5 8.1

To make someone start thinking and behaving reasonably, often by scolding or force

to knock boots
  • Offensive
4 9.9

An informal way to say to have sex with someone

to knock off
  • Informal
4 7.4

Stop doing something, often when it is annoying

to knock off
  • Informal
4 6.1

Make something quickly with little effort

Hit something by accident when you move and touch it

to knock down
  • Specialized
1 7.8

Reduce how much a gene works in cells

To surprise someone very much so they cannot react

1 6.7

To make something quickly and simply from things you have, like a shelter or meal

1 6.3

To hit something hard so it moves or gets damaged

Make something quickly that will not last long

To still be around in a place or situation

To appear as a good chance for you

To impress many people by doing something very well

Compounds

knock on
  • Jargon
7 8.2

The illegal action of hitting the ball forward with the hand or arm while trying to catch it

2 4.7

An indirect result of an event that causes other changes

knock knock
  • Informal
2 4.3

A short joke that starts with 'Knock knock!' and uses a call and answer

1 8.4

With knees that bend inward and touch while the ankles stay apart

knock rummy
  • Jargon
1 8.7

A rummy game where a player ends a round if unmatched cards total less than ten points

Very violent and intense, often about a fight or argument

Knees that turn inward and touch when the legs are straight

9.8

A strong feeling or sound in the stomach that tells you to eat soon

How Critical

to vilify
43 7.9
to lambaste
1 8.0
slam
  • Offensive
34 6.3
to knock
  • Informal
593 5.3
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

knock infinitive
knocked past
knocked past participle
knocking present participle
knocks third person singular

Etymology

Knock (to criticize) grew from the idea of 'hitting' something with words — a helpful way to remember it is to think of a verbal 'hit' that brings something down. So to 'knock' an idea is to find fault with it.