Skip to main content
knock-on effect

knock-on effect

2 4.7
An indirect result of an event that causes other changes
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : efecto dominó
  • The closure of the factory caused a knock-on effect on local businesses that relied on its supply chain.

Now this will have a knock on effect on some of the accounts.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Faltering growth in Germany will have knock-on effects on the rest of the euro zone, which has relied on its core economies, Germany and France, for growth while the high-debt nations such as Greece, Portugal, and Spain are weighed down by austerity programs aimed at overcoming their debt problems.

    Blog text (25)
  • And you've seen America's reputation on the world stage collapse since Afghanistan and we've just discussed some of the knock on effects from that.

  • Now this will have a knock on effect on some of the accounts.

  • And that had huge knock-on effects around the system.

  • College rugby has also seen a knock-on effect.

    Blog text (17)
  • And the pandemic's done that and it's had a huge knock on effect of people's mind health.

  • A company like ours who services them, you suffer a knock-on effect.

  • What matters is whether a collapse has knock-on effects, particularly for the banking system more generally.

    Academic text (2007)
  • All of this has a knock-on effect on the vulnerable coastlines.

    Blog text (33)
  • She starts with a conventional look at how many jobs the Recovery Act created, as well as the knock-on effects.

    Blog text (32)

Synonyms

impact
vsknock-on effect
3.1

A strong effect on people, places, or things

is specifically an indirect secondary effect, not merely strong direct influence
externality
vsknock-on effect
  • Specialized
13 8.3

A side effect of an action on people who are not involved, often harmful or helpful

is a general indirect effect not limited to economic contexts or third parties
domino effect
vsknock-on effect
9 4.0

A chain of events in which one event causes the next to happen

is an indirect secondary influence rather than a direct sequential cause
spillover
vsknock-on effect
  • Specialized
8 5.8

An indirect effect that helps other businesses or areas beyond the original activity

is an indirect secondary effect that stays within related situations rather than crossing contexts
reverberation
vsknock-on effect
3 6.8

An effect that continues after an earlier action and affects others

is a single indirect effect that may not last or echo over time
backwash
vsknock-on effect
6.8

The continuing effects after a big event that often cause problems

is any indirect secondary effect without necessarily being negative or long lasting

How Strong

chain reaction
  • Specialized
1 4.1
knock-on effect
  • UK
2 4.7
consequence
874 4.1
to ripple
49 2.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

knock-on + effect

The meaning is partly derivable: knowing 'knock' (an impact) and 'effect' (a resulting change) allows learners to infer a resulting or carried-on impact, so there is a clear compositional cue. However, 'knock-on' as a lexicalized modifier meaning 'indirect, cascading' is somewhat conventionalized and may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so the item is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The noun knock-on effect comes from the image of one knock hitting something and passing the movement on to the next thing, like one falling object hitting the next. So it means 'a result that happens later because of something else'.