knock off
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knock off
Where it comes from
In the verb sense of stopping work, said to be from the practice aboard slave galleys to have a man beat time for the rowers by knocking on a block or drum; when he stopped, the rowers could rest.
verb knocks off · knocking off · knocked off
- To remove (something or someone) by applying a strong force. He was knocked off his bike.
- To remove, as a discount or estimate. They agreed to knock off 20% of the price.
- To make a copy of, as of a design. They send people to the shows in Milan for "ideas", which means knocking off the designs they guess would sell.
- To assign (an item) to a bidder at an auction, indicated by knocking on the counter.
- To accomplish hastily. I knocked off a couple of quick sketches before the design meeting.
- To halt one's work or other activity. I think I'll knock off for the evening and go to bed.
- To kill. The mobsters hired the guy to knock off their enemies.
- To defeat. The Hammers knocked off Arsenal on the strength of a 78th-minute tally from Jarrod Bowen.
- To rob. They decided to knock off a liquor store downtown.
- To have sex with (a woman). I took her down to Basin Street and to a movie, then took her to my room and knocked her off.
noun knock offs
- Nonstandard form of knockoff.knockoff
