knock off
C1Informal, Colloquial, sometimes used in business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To stop work; to produce something quickly or cheaply, often an inferior imitation.
A multi-purpose phrasal verb with meanings including: 1. to finish work for the day, 2. to make an unauthorised/copied product, 3. to kill someone, 4. to reduce a price, 5. to do something quickly and without much care, 6. to steal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning is highly context-dependent. 'Let's knock off at five' is benign; 'He sells knock-off watches' implies illegal copying; 'They knocked off a rival gang member' is criminal slang. The noun form 'knock-off' (often hyphenated) is common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use all major meanings. The 'finish work' sense is very common in UK work contexts. The 'cheap copy' sense ('a knock-off') is perhaps slightly more lexicalised in American commerce.
Connotations
The 'finish work' sense is neutral/colloquial. The 'cheap copy' sense carries strong negative connotations of illegality and poor quality. The 'kill' sense is very informal/slang and potentially offensive.
Frequency
Overall frequency is medium-high in informal speech. The 'stop work' sense is high frequency in UK workplace talk. The 'counterfeit' sense is common in global commerce discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
knock off [OBJECT: work, time, price, person, product]knock off [ADVERBIAL: early, for lunch, at five]be a knock-off [OF something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “knock it off! (stop doing that)”
- “knock someone's block off (threaten to hit)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We usually knock off around 5:30." "The market is flooded with knock-off versions of our product."
Academic
Rare, except in sociological/economic studies of counterfeit goods ('the knock-off economy').
Everyday
"Fancy knocking off early for a pint?" "That's not a real Rolex, it's a knock-off."
Technical
Used informally in manufacturing/design contexts to mean 'produce a quick prototype' or 'create an illicit copy'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We knock off at half four on Fridays.
- The street vendor was arrested for selling knocked-off gear.
American English
- Let's knock off work and grab a beer.
- Can you knock $20 off the asking price?
adjective
British English
- He was caught with a knock-off designer handbag.
- It's just a knock-off version of the popular game.
American English
- The flea market is full of knock-off sunglasses.
- She bought a knock-off purse from a street cart.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- What time do you knock off today?
- I bought a knock-off phone charger and it broke.
- The factory knocks off thousands of imitation toys every week.
- He knocked £50 off the price when I hesitated.
- The gang was accused of knocking off a informant.
- This dissertation is due tomorrow; I need to knock off the final chapter tonight.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a worker literally KNOCKING a clock OFF the wall when their shift is over. Or, a thief KNOCKING a valuable statue OFF its pedestal to steal it.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK IS A BURDEN (knock it off your shoulders). CREATING IS PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION (knock it together quickly). COUNTERFEITING IS STRIKING/REMOVING VALUE (knocking off the brand's prestige).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do NOT translate as 'сбить' (to knock down) in the 'finish work' sense. 'Knock off work' is not physical. The 'copy' sense is 'подделка', not a direct calque. 'Knock it off!' is 'Прекрати!', not related to hitting.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'knock off' in formal writing. Confusing 'knock off' (stop work) with 'knock out' (make unconscious). Using the 'kill' sense in inappropriate contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'knock off' mean 'to murder'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always informal or colloquial. Avoid it in very formal writing.
'Knock off' primarily means to stop work or make a copy. 'Knock out' means to make unconscious, to eliminate from a competition, or to produce something impressively fast.
Yes, very commonly. 'That's a knock-off' means it's a cheap, illegal copy of a branded product.
It's an idiomatic, informal command meaning 'Stop doing that!' or 'Stop it!'