🤕 To hit 🚪 To tap for attention 🔔 A tapping sound 👎 To criticize 💥 A hard hit 🗣️ A criticism 🚗 To make engine noise

knock

10 5.3

A remark that criticizes someone or something in a negative way

noun
/nɑk/

Informal

: crítica

I agree with your excellent points about Landry, but why the knock on Curry?

And the Daryl BBC keeps it going against all knocks to its pride and so on.

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Examples

Critics often highlight the knock on his work as being too simplistic and lacking depth.
And that's not meant as a knock on Nease, whose football program made great strides.

Blog text (15)
For years, the knock on golf was that it was a sport for the rich.

Blog text (21)
And this is part of what was the knock on me in all my careers.
When Jones first joined the Kings organization, the knock on him was his strength, or lack thereof.

Blog text (2)
Folks, my comment was not a knock on Marines or their marksmanship skills.

Blog text (22)
The main knock on the proposed policy is that it does not address the needs of the community.
One common knock against her argument is that it relies too heavily on anecdotal evidence.

Synonyms

shot

vsknock

Offensive

83 5.9

A short angry remark meant to hurt or criticize someone

is general negative criticism rather than a personal attack

bashing

vsknock

NSFW

48 4.4

Harsh repeated criticism of a person or their ideas

is general criticism, not necessarily repeated or excessive

slam

vsknock

Offensive

8 6.3

An insulting remark meant to hurt someone

is broader criticism, not always meant to personally wound

slam on

vsknock

Informal

2 8.2

A strong attack in words on a person or group

is general criticism rather than a deliberate sustained attack

brickbat

vsknock

Offensive

1 9.3

A sharp insulting remark about someone or their actions

is broader criticism rather than one sharp cutting comment

Antonyms

compliment

300 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

praise

220 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Idioms

knock on wood

Informal

13 6.8

You say it to avoid bad luck after saying something good

to knock for a loop

Informal

3 8.7

To surprise someone very much and leave them speechless

to knock down a peg

Informal

2 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

to knock over with a feather

Informal

2 8.8

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

to knock the stuffing out of

Informal

1 8.6

To make someone feel very tired, weak, or sad

to knock into the middle of next week

Informal

1 9.9

To hit or shock someone so they feel dazed

to knock the living daylights out of

Offensive

1 9.9

To hit someone very hard or to shock someone very much

to knock it out of the box office

Literature

8.4

To sell a lot of movie tickets

to knock off one's perch

Informal

7.9

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

to knock down for the count

Informal

8.2

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

Compounds

knock knock

Informal

17 4.3

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

knock-on effect

2 4.7

An indirect result of an event that causes other changes

knock-kneed

1 8.4

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

knock-knee

1 8.2

Knees that turn inward and touch when the legs are straight

knock rummy

Jargon

1 8.7

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

knock on

Jargon

1 8.2

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

knock-down-and-drag-out

NSFW

1 8.8

Very violent and intense, often about a fight or argument

hunger knock

9.8

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

How Critical

denunciation

11 7.4

attack

485 3.2

slam

Offensive

8 6.3

knock

Informal

10 5.3

criticism

649 3.0

Surface Forms

knock singular

knocks plural

Etymology

Knock (a critical remark) follows the same pattern: the word moved from a physical hit to a verbal one, so a single negative comment is called a 'knock'.