knock back

British  

verb

1. informal to drink, esp quickly

2. informal to cost

3. slang to reject or refuse

   you cannot possibly knock back such an offer

4. slang to come as an unpleasant surprise to; disconcert

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noun

1. slang a refusal or rejection

2. slang:prison failure to obtain parole

knock back Idioms  

1. Also, knock it back. Gulp down an alcoholic beverage, as in He knocked back glass after glass of wine, or I hear you've been knocking it back a bit. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

knock back

It was reported today that Osasuna have enquired about Tierney, although that same article suggested Celtic chiefs will knock back any offers for the 29-year-old.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

He also appeared to knock back a suggestion floated by the EU's defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier this month for a possible European defence force that could replace US troops on the continent.

From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026

But for all the tension in markets around the inflation release, any hope that one month's data will alter the Federal Reserve's tightening course received a knock back.

From Reuters ● Nov. 10, 2022

Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, the Commanders called a blitz, opting to forgo zone coverage on the back end to stay aggressive and knock back the Lions.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 19, 2022

Now it had redundant solar panels, whose frequent bursts of coordinated electricity were strong enough to knock back an elephant.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer

Related Words

• carouse
• gobble
• imbibe
• quaff
• slosh
• swig
• swill