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to knock out

to knock out

210 4.3
To make someone unconscious by a hit, illness, or being very tired
  • phrasal verb
  • /nɑk aʊt/
  • NSFW
translation icon : dejar inconsciente
  • Obviously he knocked me out at UFC 100.
  • get knocked out
  • knocked out cold
  • knock the wind out

And so imagine if Jake Paul like knocks out Chavez junior, then what?

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Examples

Synonyms

to stun
vsto knock out
11 4.0

To make someone unconscious or dazed for a short time by a hit

produces full unconsciousness or inability to function rather than just daze
to knock cold
vsto knock out
8 7.9

To make someone unconscious by hitting them

also covers unconsciousness from illness, tiredness, or nonblow causes
to knock flat
vsto knock out
1 7.4

To surprise someone very much so they cannot react

refers to actual loss of consciousness or broader inability to function
to put my lights out
vsto knock out
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To make someone fall asleep or become unconscious suddenly

is broader, applying to loss of function from many causes
to kayo
vsto knock out
  • Archaic
9.9

To knock someone unconscious with a single punch

is used for unconsciousness from any cause, not only fights
to punch someone's lights out
vsto knock out
  • Offensive
9.8

Hit someone very hard so they are knocked out

covers unconsciousness from any cause, not only violent intent
to knock down for the count
vsto knock out
  • Informal
8.2

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

describes being rendered unable to function in any situation, not only matches

Antonyms

71 4.1

To make a person conscious again after fainting

65 3.7

To make someone feel more active and alert

How Incapacitated

to knock out
  • NSFW
210 4.3
to stun
11 3.0
to daze
2 4.3

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

knock + out

The literal sense 'to render unconscious' is transparently built from 'knock' (to strike) + 'out' (into an unconscious state), and the figurative sense 'to impress or overwhelm' is a metaphorical extension of that physical impact. This metaphorical transfer is partially predictable but not fully obvious to a B1 learner who has not encountered the idiomatic use, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Knock out — The phrasal verb knock out comes from the clear image of a hard hit that makes someone fall out of consciousness, like a boxer landing a heavy knock and the opponent going limp. So it now means 'to make someone unconscious or unable to function'.