Same verb · different particle
Same verb, different particle, different meaning. Learn these 4 one at a time, then test yourself.
drink something quickly, often in one go
Examples
She knocked back her coffee and dashed for the train.
He knocked back a pint and ordered another.
Common mistake
Using it for eating food; 'knock back' is mainly for drinks.
To destroy a building or structure so that it falls to the ground.
Examples
They knocked down the old cinema to build a new shopping center.
A: What happened to that house on the corner?
B: Oh, they knocked it down last week.
Common mistake
Not: The old house was knocked down to the ground.
Say: The old house was knocked down.
'Knock down' already means flatten — 'to the ground' is redundant.
Another example
In my hometown, many old buildings have been knocked down to make space for modern apartments.
Tell it apart
They knocked down the wall.
A car knocked down a pedestrian.
Goes with
To hit someone so hard that they become unconscious, or to cause someone to become unconscious for a short time.
Examples
The boxer knocked his opponent out in the second round.
A: What happened to your brother?
B: He fell off his bike and hit his head. It knocked him out for a few seconds.
Common mistake
Not: He was knocked out unconscious.
Say: He was knocked out.
'Knock out' already means make unconscious — 'unconscious' is redundant.
Another example
During the match, one player was accidentally knocked out and had to be taken to the hospital for a check-up.
Tell it apart
The boxer knocked him out.
The boxer was knocked out of the tournament.
Goes with
to make a meal quickly and without much effort
Examples
I'll knock up something for dinner with whatever's in the fridge.
He knocked up a cheese toastie before heading out.
Read the sentence, then pick the phrasal verb that belongs in the gap.
Pick one and say it out loud. Save the ones you mix up.