knock down
B2Neutral to informal (general); specific formal uses in commerce/auctions.
Definition
Meaning
To cause someone or something to fall to the ground, typically by hitting or striking it.
To demolish or dismantle a structure; to reduce a price or offer significantly; to hit and injure someone with a vehicle.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has literal, destructive, commercial, and metaphorical uses. The past participle/adjectival form 'knocked-down' can describe something disassembled for transport.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use all main meanings. 'Knock down' for 'demolish a building' is slightly more frequent in BrE. 'Knock down' (price reduction) is common in both, though AmE also uses 'knock off' informally. In auctions, 'knock down to' (award a lot to a bidder) is standard in both.
Connotations
Broadly similar. The phrase 'a knockdown price' (very low) is established in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in both, with comparable usage across domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] knocks down [Object][Subject] knocks [Object] down [for (price)][Subject] knocks [Indirect Object] down to [price]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a knockdown argument (a compelling one)”
- “a knockdown-drag-out fight (a violent, lengthy quarrel)”
- “knock 'em dead (perform brilliantly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In negotiations: 'We managed to knock the price down by 15%.' In auctions: 'The vase was knocked down to him for £500.'
Academic
Used metaphorically: 'The study seeks to knock down prevailing theories about the cause.'
Everyday
Literal: 'The wind nearly knocked me down.' Commercial: 'They've knocked down the price of the sofa.'
Technical
In construction/demolition: 'The crew will knock down the interior partitions.' In logistics: 'Knocked-down furniture saves on shipping costs.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council plans to knock down the old cinema.
- He tried to knock me down to fifty quid for it.
- The lorry knocked down a cyclist on the roundabout.
American English
- They're going to knock down that old mall.
- See if you can knock the price down another hundred dollars.
- A car almost knocked her down at the crosswalk.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard as a standalone adverb. Used in phrasal verb constructions only.)
American English
- (Not standard as a standalone adverb. Used in phrasal verb constructions only.)
adjective
British English
- We bought a knocked-down bookcase from IKEA.
- He sold it at a knockdown price just to be rid of it.
American English
- The kit comes in knocked-down form for easy shipping.
- I got a really knockdown deal on this laptop.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ball knocked down the vase.
- Be careful not to knock down the tower of blocks.
- The storm knocked down several trees in the park.
- I managed to knock the seller down to €80.
- The developer applied for permission to knock down the warehouse.
- Her brilliant counter-argument instantly knocked down his proposal.
- The auctioneer knocked the lot down to a phone bidder after a tense duel.
- The report systematically knocks down the myth that the policy was economically beneficial.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a boxer delivering a punch that KNOCKS an opponent DOWN to the canvas. This core image of hitting + falling applies to prices (hitting them till they fall), buildings, etc.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR (knock down an opponent's argument); COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IS PHYSICAL CONFLICT (knock down a price); REDUCTION IS DESCENT (prices are knocked down).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'knock out' (нокаутировать). 'Knock down' обычно означает сбить с ног, но не обязательно вывести из строя.
- В значении 'снизить цену' – это идиома, не переводится дословно как 'сбить цену' в русском физическом смысле. Ближе 'сбросить цену', 'уступить в цене'.
- 'Knocked-down' (прил.) как 'разобранный' – ложный друг для слова 'сбитый'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'knock down' instead of 'knock over' for lighter objects (e.g., a cup). *'He knocked down his coffee.' -> 'knocked over'.
- Incorrect particle order: *'They knocked the price down to.' Correct: 'knocked it down to...' or 'knocked down the price to...'.
- Confusing 'knock down' (to the ground) with 'knock out' (unconscious/eliminate).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'knock down' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. The verb is always two words: 'knock down'. The adjective (meaning 'cheap' or 'dismantled') and noun (meaning 'act of knocking down' or 'cheap item') are usually hyphenated: 'knockdown price', 'a knockdown in the first round'.
Both can mean 'to cause to fall'. 'Knock down' often implies falling from an upright to a prone position (a person, a wall). 'Knock over' often implies tipping something over, spilling its contents (a glass, a lamp). They frequently overlap.
Yes, particularly in commerce. 'Getting a price knocked down' is positive for the buyer. Also, 'knocking down barriers' or 'knocking down outdated ideas' is positive in a metaphorical, progressive sense.
It's a regular phrasal verb: 'knocked down'. 'Yesterday, they knocked down the wall.' The adjective is also 'knocked-down' (as in furniture).