knock off

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, also preposition) to finish work

   we knocked off an hour early

2. informal (tr) to make or do hastily or easily

   to knock off a novel in a week

3. informal (tr; also preposition) to reduce the price of (an article) by (a stated amount)

4. slang (tr) to kill

5. slang (tr) to rob or steal

   to knock off a bank

   to knock off a watch

6. slang (tr) to stop doing something, used as a command

   knock it off!

7. slang (tr) to have sexual intercourse with; to seduce

---

noun

1. informal

   1. an illegal imitation of a well-known product

   2. ( as modifier )

      knockoff watches

knock off Idioms  

1. Take a break or rest from, stop, especially quit working. For example, He knocked off work at noon , or Let's knock off at five o'clock . [ Colloquial ; mid-1600s] Also see knock it off .

2. Also, knock out . Dispose of or produce easily or hastily, finish, as in A writer of detective novels, he knocks off a book a year , or We can knock out a rough drawing in a few minutes . The first colloquial usage dates from the early 1800s, the variant from the mid-1800s.

3. Get rid of, reduce, as in She knocked off twelve pounds in a month , or They knocked off one-third of the original price . [ Colloquial ; early 1800s]

4. Kill, murder, as in They decided to knock off the old lady . [ Slang ; early 1900s] Also see knock someone's block off .

5. Copy or imitate, especially without permission, as in They are knocking off designer Swiss watches and selling them for a few dollars . [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]

6. Hold up, rob, as in The gang knocked off two liquor stores in half an hour . [ Slang ; early 1900s] Also see knock the socks off .

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

knock off

Cavaliers knock off Birmingham to become favorite to win West Valley League.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

The Bruins would climb into a tie for fifth with Wisconsin should USC knock off the Badgers on Sunday in Madison.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2026

If he does, it would knock off another McKenzie milestone, the South African's top score of 226.

From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025

But Young’s play has improved lately, and he just completed 15-of-20 passes with three touchdowns to knock off the Los Angeles Rams, one of the league’s top teams.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

"And the mockingjays spread it around the orchard. That's how everyone knows to knock off," she continues.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• dispatch
• dispose of
• eliminate
• snuff out
• whack

---