Master 8 Phrasal Verbs with KNOCK: Meanings, Examples & Daily Usage • 7ESL

Contents

Phrasal verbs with KNOCK are widely used in everyday English to describe actions involving impact, stopping, refusing, defeating, reducing, or creating something quickly. Because many of these expressions have multiple meanings, learners often misuse them or confuse similar forms.

In this lesson, you’ll learn a carefully organized list of common phrasal verbs with KNOCK, complete with clear meanings, natural examples, pronunciation, and grammar notes. Each expression is explained in practical contexts to help you use it accurately in real-life communication.

List of Common Phrasal Verbs with KNOCK

Knock down
Knock off / Knock it off
Knock out
Knock about
Knock back
Knock over
Knock together
Knock up

Phrasal Verbs with KNOCK: Meaning and Examples

Knock down

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk daʊn/

📖 Meanings:

To cause something to fall by hitting it
To demolish a building or structure
To officially sell an item at an auction
To reduce a price or amount

📝 Examples:

He accidentally knocked down his coffee cup.
The old factory was knocked down last year.
The painting was knocked down for $5,000.
The store knocked down the price by 20%.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

🔄 Synonyms: Demolish, Reduce, Topple

Knock off / Knock it off

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk ɒf/

📖 Meanings:

To stop working or finish an activity
To remove something by hitting it
To reduce a price
To stop annoying behavior (knock it off)

📝 Examples:

Let’s knock off work early today.
Be careful not to knock off the vase.
They agreed to knock off $50.
Knock it off! That noise is annoying.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

🔄 Synonyms: Stop, Finish, Reduce

Knock out

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk aʊt/

📖 Meanings:

To make someone unconscious
To eliminate or defeat
To exhaust someone
To complete something quickly

📝 Examples:

The boxer knocked out his opponent.
The long flight really knocked me out.
They knocked out the report in two hours.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

🔄 Synonyms: Defeat, Exhaust, Complete

Knock about

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk əˈbaʊt/

📖 Meaning: To spend time casually or be loosely scattered

📝 Examples:

We used to knock about the city on weekends.
There are old tools knocking about the garage.

💡 Grammar Note: Intransitive – Inseparable

Knock back

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk bæk/

📖 Meanings:

To refuse or reject something
To shock or deeply surprise someone
To drink alcohol quickly

📝 Examples:

Her application was knocked back.
The news really knocked him back.
They knocked back a few shots after work.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

Knock over

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk ˈəʊvə(r)/

📖 Meaning: To cause something to fall or to rob a place

📝 Examples:

The wind knocked over the fence.
The store was knocked over last night.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

Knock together

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk təˈɡeðə(r)/

📖 Meaning: To make something quickly using available materials

📝 Example: He knocked together a shelf in an hour.

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

Knock up

🔊 Pronunciation: /nɒk ʌp/

📖 Meanings:

(BrE) To make something quickly
(AmE) To make someone pregnant (informal – sensitive)

📝 Examples:

She knocked up a quick dinner. (BrE)
He accidentally knocked her up. (AmE)

💡 Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

Dialogue Examples with Phrasal Verbs with KNOCK

Dialogue 1

A: That project looks exhausting.
B: Yeah, but we knocked it out in one day.

Dialogue 2

A: Why are you yelling?
B: Sorry. I’ll knock it off.

Exercises with Answers

Exercise: Fill in the blanks

The storm ______ the old tree.
They ______ the price by 15%.
That workout really ______ me out.
Please ______ it off.

Answer Key

knocked down
knocked down
knocked
knock

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is “knock up” safe to use?
A: Be careful. In American English, it usually means “make someone pregnant.”

Q: What’s the difference between knock down and knock back?
A: Knock down is for prices or buildings. Knock back is for refusal or drinking.

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs with KNOCK are powerful but easy to misuse if you ignore context and regional differences. Focus on meaning, grammar structure, and real usage to master them naturally.

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