knockdown
B2Mainly informal in literal 'strike down' sense; neutral in commerce/furniture; slightly formal in argumentative sense.
Definition
Meaning
Something (a price, a person, a structure) reduced to a much lower level, either physically or figuratively.
A type of furniture sold unassembled in flat parts; in boxing/sports, a situation where a fighter is down but not out; a forceful argument or criticism that demolishes an opponent's position.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions as a noun, adjective, and (rarely) verb. The adjectival use ('knockdown price') is particularly common. Implies a decisive, often sudden, reduction or defeat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Knockdown' furniture is common in both. In sports commentary, 'knockdown' (noun) is slightly more frequent in American boxing parlance.
Connotations
Identical in core meanings. The argumentative sense ('a knockdown argument') may feel slightly more literary in BrE.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The collocation 'knockdown price' is universally common in retail contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + a knockdown (suffer/take/score/survive a knockdown)[adjective] + knockdown (absolute/complete/cheap knockdown)knockdown + [noun] (price/argument/furniture)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “knockdown drag-out (fight) - a violent, no-holds-barred confrontation.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to heavily discounted prices to clear stock. 'We're offering these models at a knockdown rate.'
Academic
Used metaphorically for a logically compelling argument that defeats a theory. 'The paper presented a knockdown objection to the prevailing hypothesis.'
Everyday
Most common for cheap prices or furniture. 'I bought a knockdown bookcase from the DIY store.'
Technical
In boxing/martial arts, a referee count is initiated after a knockdown. In chemistry/biology, can refer to reducing gene expression or insect populations ('knockdown agent').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The storm threatened to knockdown the poorly built shed.
- (Rare, technical) The pesticide is designed to knockdown flies rapidly.
American English
- The boxer managed to knockdown his opponent in the third round.
- (Rare) The new evidence will knockdown their entire case.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare, not standard) It was sold knockdown.
American English
- (Extremely rare, not standard) He argued his point knockdown.
adjective
British English
- They were selling last season's coats at a knockdown price.
- I assembled the knockdown wardrobe in about an hour.
American English
- We found a knockdown deal on a new sofa.
- It was a knockdown argument that left her speechless.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The toy was at a knockdown price in the sale.
- The big wind knocked down the tree.
- I bought some knockdown furniture for my first flat.
- The boxer got up after the first knockdown.
- They won the contract by submitting a knockdown bid.
- Her critique of the theory was a real knockdown.
- The philosopher's treatise contained a knockdown refutation of solipsism.
- The knockdown reagent effectively silenced the target gene expression.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a boxer being KNOCKED DOWN to the floor. Now imagine a price being 'knocked down' to the floor. Both are brought to a much lower level.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINNING IS KNOCKING DOWN (an argument, an opponent). CHEAP IS LOW (a price is knocked down to a low level).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'knockout' (нокаут). A knockdown is a knock*down*, not out. The fighter gets up. 'Knockdown furniture' is not 'разборная' (disassembled) in a general sense, but specifically designed to be flat-packed. The adjective 'knockdown' (as in price) is often best translated as 'сильно сниженный' or 'бросовый', not just 'низкий'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'knockdown' as a verb for 'to demolish a building' (use 'knock down' as a phrasal verb). Spelling as one word when it should be two for the verb phrase ('He will knock down the wall'). Confusing 'knockdown price' with 'sale price' (a knockdown price is exceptionally, shockingly low).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'knockdown' used as a standard adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Knock down' is a phrasal verb meaning to hit something so it falls. 'Knockdown' is primarily a noun or adjective describing the result or a related concept (e.g., a knockdown price).
Yes, but context matters. The metaphorical use ('a knockdown argument') is acceptable in academic or formal debate. The commercial use ('knockdown price') is informal.
A knockdown is when a fighter is knocked to the canvas but rises before the referee counts to ten. A knockout (KO) is when the fighter cannot rise before the count of ten, ending the fight.
It's an American idiom describing a very fierce, violent, and prolonged fight or argument, implying no restraint.