knock out
Idioms-
Also, knock out cold . Render unconscious by a blow or some other means. For example, It was just a swinging door, but it knocked her out , or Just one of those sleeping pills can knock you out cold . [Late 1500s]
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Make tired, exhaust, as in That sightseeing tour knocked me out .
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Render useless or inoperative, as in The storm knocked out the power .
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See knock off , def. 2.
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See knock oneself out .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That pace is matched only by its race to knock out rival mascots—including an alligator, a duck and chickens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
And yes, your day-to-day might feel more strained while you’re trying to knock out this last $20,000 — but I promise that you’ll feel much lighter entering your 41st birthday with no debt.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
“Now that the money is better, that might knock out several college players in the draft.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
The attacks do more than just knock out the power -- they also sap the morale, particularly of the communities of workers and families that have been built around the plants.
From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026
He slapped at his pants, trying to knock out the dust.
From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
