Idioms for knock

Origin of knock

before 1000; 1890–95 for def 4; Middle English knokken, knoken (v.), Old English cnocian, cnucian; cognate with Old Norse knoka to thump, knock

SYNONYMS FOR knock

1 See strike.

OTHER WORDS FROM knock

knock·less, adjective re·knock, verb un·knocked, adjective un·knock·ing, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for knock the socks off

knock
/ (nɒk) /

verb

noun

Word Origin for knock

Old English cnocian, of imitative origin; related to Old Norse knoka to hit

Idioms and Phrases with knock the socks off (1 of 2)

knock the socks off

Also knock someone's socks off.

1

Overwhelm, bedazzle, or amaze someone, as in The young pianist knocked the socks off of the judges, or That display will knock their socks off. [Slang; mid-1800s]

2

Also, knock the spots off. Surpass or outdo completely, defeat. For example, These large chains have been knocking the socks off the small independent grocers, or Our team knocked the spots off them. The spots most likely allude to target practice with playing cards where the object is to shoot through all the pips, spots, or marks indicating the suit or numerical value of a playing card, but one authority holds that they were used in a horse-breeding context and meant “to be in the vanguard.” [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with knock the socks off (2 of 2)

knock