knock down — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb3 meanings

knock down

1demolish (a building or structure)2hit and make fall 3reduce price sharply

Meaning 1 · most common

demolish (a building or structure)

knock down sth

To destroy a building or structure so that it falls to the ground.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

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.

More on “demolish (a building or structure)”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

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.

demolished it

A car knocked down a pedestrian.

hit and felled them

Goes with

knock down

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Next meaning: hit and make fall

Meaning 2

hit and make fall

knock down sth

To hit someone or something so that they fall to the ground.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The cyclist was knocked down by a car but luckily wasn't badly hurt.

A: Did you see what happened at the match?
B: Yeah, one player knocked the other down by accident.

Common mistake

Not: He was knocked down ~~from~~ a cyclist.

Say: He was knocked down by a cyclist.

Use 'by' for the agent — 'knocked down BY a car/cyclist'.

More on “hit and make fall”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

I once saw a child get knocked down by a stray football during a game at school.

Tell it apart

A bus knocked him down.

hit and felled him

They knocked the shop down.

demolished it

Goes with

knock down

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Next meaning: reduce price sharply

Meaning 3

reduce price sharply

knock down price/amount
informal

To lower the price of something significantly, often as a result of negotiation or a special offer.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

The manager agreed to knock down the price by 30% to secure the deal.

A: That jacket is way too expensive for me.
B: If you ask, they might knock down the price since it's last season's stock.

Common mistake

Not: I knocked ~~down~~ the price ~~for~~ £20.

Say: I knocked the price down to £20. / I knocked £20 off.

'Knock down TO + the final price'. To name the reduction amount, use 'knock £20 OFF'.

More on “reduce price sharply”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During negotiations, the supplier was willing to knock down the cost significantly, making the contract much more attractive to the buyer.

Tell it apart

They knocked the price down to £30.

reduced it

They knocked the old shed down.

demolished it

Goes with

knock down

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demolish (a building or structure)hit and make fall reduce price sharply