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knocked out

knocked out

29 4.6
Not awake after a strong hit to the head
  • idiom
translation icon : noqueado
  • And I would rather get knocked out trying than lose on points.
  • got knocked out
  • tooth knocked out
  • knocked out cold

I've been, I've got, I've been knocked out on stage on doing stand up, knocked clean out.

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Examples

  • The first to be knocked out or die loses.

  • She had her four teeth knocked out by a broom handle.

  • We found him knocked out in the can.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You were knocked out in the fifth.

  • Harrison came out and was immediately knocked out in the first round.

    Blog text (3)
  • My mom was knocked out instantly, but was still alive.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • He saw you get knocked out cold.

  • The necklaces don't come off until the one wearing it is knocked out.

  • The son was knocked unconscious and hospitalized with a split lip and several teeth knocked out.

    Academic text (2013)
  • After receiving a powerful punch, he was knocked out and lay on the mat for several minutes.

Synonyms

out cold
vsknocked out
  • Informal
27 6.9

Unconscious or sleeping very deeply

specifies that the unconsciousness comes from a heavy head blow
out like a light
vsknocked out
  • Informal
7 7.3

To fall asleep or become unconscious very quickly

describes the same loss of awareness but due to a heavy blow
down for the count
vsknocked out
  • Informal
5 8.1

Completely unable to move or continue because of extreme tiredness

refers specifically to unconsciousness caused by a heavy blow rather than tiredness
knocked out cold
vsknocked out
  • Informal
2 7.2

Completely unconscious after a hard hit to the head

focuses on unconsciousness caused specifically by a heavy head blow
out
vsknocked out
  • Informal
1 6.8

Not conscious after a hit or fall

adds that the cause is a heavy head blow in particular
KO'd
vsknocked out
  • Informal
9.6

Unconscious after a strong hit in a fight or boxing match

is the same unconsciousness but not limited to sports
kayoed
vsknocked out
  • Archaic
9.9

A person knocked unconscious by a hard punch, often during a fight or boxing match

is the neutral, descriptive term for the identical state
to knock down for the count
vsknocked out
  • Informal
8.2

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

means physical unconsciousness from a heavy head blow rather than defeat

Antonyms

179 3.8

Awake and able to feel or notice things around you

82 2.8

Quick to notice and respond to what is happening

How Unconscious

unconscious
243 4.2
out cold
  • Informal
27 6.9
knocked out
29 4.6
stunned
29 3.0
dazed
40 4.8

Surface Forms

knocked out positive

Morphology

knocked + out

The meaning 'unconscious from a heavy blow' is directly derivable from combining 'knock' (to strike/hit) with 'out' (into an unconscious or out-of-action state); this verb+particle composition follows a standard, literal pattern. Because the relation between parts and the overall sense is transparent and cross-linguistically common, a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely infer the meaning.

Etymology

Knocked out comes from boxing and fighting: a hard hit would knock a fighter out of the match and send them to the floor, often making them unconscious. That's why knocked out means 'unconscious as a result of a heavy blow'.