to knee

Examples

• All

• Corbett takes advantage of Eric's poor peripheral vision from the visor by kneeing Eric in the face.

  Fiction book (1993)

• She was able to escape by quickly kneeing her attacker in the groin.

• You just knee him if he does that.

  Marley & Me (2008)

• Cameron knees the weaker man square in the face.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Then she knees him in the groin.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The guard pats him down, then suddenly knees him in the kidneys.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Then Quaid kicks the goon to his right in the stomach, then knees him in the face.

  Fiction book (1990)

• The Bear knees Chili in the gut, then shoves him out onto the balcony.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The Horseman knees Macleod in the groin.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Marshall presses the safety button on the gun with his forefinger, then knees Vlad in the balls.

  Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

S

to strike

vsto knee

553 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is done using the bent leg joint rather than any other body part

Idioms

B

to bend the knee

1 8.4

To show loyalty and obey a powerful person

K

knee-high to a grasshopper

• Informal

1 9.1

Very small and young, especially a child

K

knee-deep in the Big Muddy

• Informal

9.9

Deeply stuck in a difficult situation that is hard to leave

Compounds

K

knee-deep

• Informal

13 3.9

Very involved in something, like work or problems

O

one knee

13 2.4

A kneeling position with one knee on the ground often used to propose marriage

K

knee-deep

5 3.1

Water or mud that reaches up to the knees

K

knee pad

5 1.3

A soft pad worn over the knee to protect it during work or sport

K

knee-length

3 2.9

Long enough to reach the knee, like a dress or coat

K

knee brace

3 3.2

A support worn around the knee to protect and keep it stable

K

knee jerk

3 4.3

Lower leg suddenly kicks out when the area below the kneecap is tapped

K

knee-high

2 3.5

Reaching up to the knees

K

knee joint

2 2.3

The place where the thigh meets the lower leg, protected by a kneecap

K

knee slapper

• Informal

1 6.8

A very funny joke that makes people laugh loudly

K

knee-high

1 2.7

A sock that reaches up to just below the knees

K

knee bend

1 3.3

An exercise where you bend your knees to lower and raise your body to make your leg muscles stronger

K

knee breeches

• Archaic

1 9.9

Short trousers fastened just below the knee, worn by men in the 1600s and 1700s

K

knee pants

• Archaic

1 9.9

Short trousers that reach to the knee and are often worn by boys

K

knee-jerk reflex

• Specialized

1 3.9

A sudden automatic kick of the lower leg when the tendon below the kneecap is tapped

K

knee piece

• Archaic

9.9

A curved metal plate that protects the knee in armor

K

knee-hi

5.1

A long sock that reaches just below the knee

K

knock-knee

8.2

Knees that turn inward and touch when the legs are straight

H

human knee

2.4

The joint between the thigh and the shin, covered by the kneecap

H

housemaid's knee

• Specialized

8.6

Swelling at the front of the knee caused by kneeling or injury

T

thick-knee

• Specialized

9.9

A large wading bird with big eyes and a thick knee joint

W

water on the knee

• Specialized

6.5

A swelling of the knee caused by extra fluid in the joint

How Hard

to slam

323 2.3

to knee

7 4.6

to tap

174 1.0

to nudge

33 3.8

to touch

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology