knifepoint
C2Formal; journalistic; police/law enforcement
Definition
Meaning
The sharp, pointed end of a knife.
A situation in which a person is threatened or attacked using a knife held ready to inflict harm, typically used in the phrase 'at knifepoint'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'at knifepoint' to describe a robbery, assault, abduction, or coercion. It functions as a non-count noun. The concept emphasizes the imminent threat of violence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the phrase 'at knifepoint' identically.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of immediate, personal, and brutal danger. Often used in news reports to specify the weapon used in a crime.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, occurring primarily in specific crime-related contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] + [VERB] + [OBJ] + at knifepoint[OBJ] + was/were + [VERB-past participle] + at knifepointVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at knifepoint”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in criminology or sociology texts discussing crime statistics or victimology.
Everyday
Used when recounting or discussing serious crimes reported in the news.
Technical
Used in police reports, court proceedings, and journalistic accounts of crimes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cashier was made to hand over the money at knifepoint.
- He was carjacked at knifepoint in a supermarket car park.
American English
- The convenience store was robbed at knifepoint last night.
- She testified that she was abducted at knifepoint.
adverb
British English
- The thieves took the jewellery, having threatened the owner knifepoint. (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- He was forced to comply, the attacker holding him knifepoint. (Rare/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- A knifepoint mugging was reported on the High Street.
- The victim survived a terrifying knifepoint ordeal.
American English
- Police are investigating a series of knifepoint robberies.
- He faced charges for a knifepoint assault.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad man had a knife. (Note: 'knifepoint' is too advanced for A2.)
- The shop was robbed. The thief used a knife.
- The woman was attacked and her bag was stolen at knifepoint.
- Knifepoint robberies are a serious concern in the area.
- Despite being held at knifepoint, the hostage managed to alert a passer-by.
- The prosecutor detailed how the defendant coerced the witness at knifepoint.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase 'point of a knife.' 'Knifepoint' condenses this into a single word used to describe the precise moment and means of a threat.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER IS A SHARP POINT; COERCION IS A WEAPON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation resulting in *'на острие ножа'* for the idiomatic usage. The correct equivalent for 'at knifepoint' is 'под угрозой ножа' or 'под дулом ножа' (using the metaphor of a gun's muzzle).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a knifepoint').
- Using it without 'at' (e.g., 'He was robbed knifepoint').
- Confusing it with 'gunpoint' and creating a hybrid like 'gun-knifepoint'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'knifepoint' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'knifepoint' is exclusively a noun. The associated action is described with verbs like 'rob', 'threaten', 'hold', or 'force' used in combination with the phrase 'at knifepoint'.
No, the standard and only correct preposition is 'at'. 'On knifepoint' is incorrect.
They follow the same grammatical pattern ('at gunpoint', 'at knifepoint') but specify the weapon used in the threat. 'Gunpoint' is more common in some regions due to crime statistics.
It is not a high-frequency, everyday word. Its use is specific to contexts describing violent crimes, primarily in news media, legal settings, and formal reports.