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knock down

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knock someone or something down

to thrust someone or something to the ground by hitting. The force of the blast knocked us down. It knocked down everyone in the room.

See also: down, knock

knock something down

 

1. Sl. to drink a portion of liquor. Here, knock this down and let's go. He knocked down a bottle of beer and called for another.

2. Sl. to earn a certain amount of money. I'm lucky to knock down twenty thousand. She must knock down about twenty thou a year.

See also: down, knock

knock something down

also knock down something

1. to show that an idea or opinion is completely wrong He knocked down my business plan, saying I couldn't raise the money to do it. Every time I make a suggestion, you knock it down.

2. to reduce the price of something or the amount you want for something He usually charges $50, but he knocked it down to $40. He wanted $300 for the ring, but we got him to knock down the price.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of knock something down (to cause a structure to fall)

See also: down, knock

knock down

1. Take apart for storage or shipping, as in We need to knock down this chest to ship it safely overseas. [Mid-1900s]

2. Declare sold at an auction, as by striking a blow with a gavel. For example, That was the last bid, and the first edition was knocked down for only three hundred. [Mid-1700s]

3. Reduce the price of, as in They knocked it down by another hundred dollars, or An overabundant harvest will knock down corn prices. [Colloquial; mid-1800].

4. Earn as wages, as in She knocks down a hundred grand a year. [Slang; 1920s]

5. Steal, embezzle, as in He was caught knocking down the box-office receipts. This usage may be obsolescent. [Slang; mid-1800s] Also see knock over, def. 2.

See also: down, knock

knock down

v.

1. To bring something or someone to the ground with a blow; topple something or someone: The strong wind knocked down the power lines. The car went through the stop sign and almost knocked me down. We knocked down part of the wall and put in a door.

2. To cause something or someone to fall off or along something: The raccoons climbed on our roof and knocked some loose bricks down the chimney. I knocked the croquet balls down the lawn.

3. To disassemble something into parts, as for storage or shipping: I knocked down the tables and put them back in the closet. The vendors knock their stalls down at the end of the day.

4. To declare that a lot has been sold at an auction, as by striking a blow with a gavel: When the highest bid is called three times without an answer, the auctioneer knocks the lot down and the bidding is over. The auctioneer knocked down the lot to the highest bidder.

5. To reduce the price of something by some amount: The store has knocked all software down from $25 to just $15. We'll knock down your next purchase an additional 10 percent.

6. To reduce the level or value of something: I went to the thermostat and knocked the temperature down a few degrees. The company has knocked down the price of all their old products. For you, we'll knock the price down to $30.

7. To persuade someone to reduce an asking price: The owners wanted $100 for the furniture, but I knocked them down to $80. A good bargainer can knock down even the most resistant sellers.

8. Slang To receive some amount or rate as wages; earn something: Some bartenders knock down $200 an hour in tips alone.

9. Slang To intoxicate someone: Whatever was in that drink really knocked me down last night. A glass of this liquor will knock down even the biggest drinkers.

See also: down, knock