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knock out — 3 meanings

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

phrasal verb3 meanings
knock out
make someone unconsciouseliminate from a competitionimpress greatly

Meaning 1 · most common

make someone unconscious

  • knock sb out

To hit someone so hard that they become unconscious, or to cause someone to become unconscious for a short time.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

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.

More on “make someone unconscious”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

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.

  • made him unconscious

The boxer was knocked out of the tournament.

  • eliminated

Goes with

  • knock out
Practice saying this
Next meaning: eliminate from a competition

Meaning 2

eliminate from a competition

  • knock sb out of sth

To defeat someone so that they can no longer continue in a competition or tournament.

How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Our team was knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals.

A: Did you hear about the chess competition?
B: Yeah, Sarah got knocked out in the first round.

Common mistake

Not: They were knocked out from the cup.

Say: They were knocked out of the cup.

'Knocked out OF a competition', not 'from'.

More on “eliminate from a competition”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If you lose in the early stages, you get knocked out and can't continue to the finals.

Tell it apart

They were knocked out of the cup.

  • eliminated

The punch knocked him out.

  • made him unconscious

Goes with

  • knock out + of
Practice saying this
Next meaning: impress greatly

Meaning 3

impress greatly

  • knock sb out
  • informal

To amaze or impress someone very much, often by being unexpectedly good, beautiful, or effective.

How oftenNow and then
LevelC1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

The performance absolutely knocked me out—it was breathtaking from start to finish.

A: Did you see Maya's painting at the exhibition?
B: I did! It completely knocked me out. I had no idea she was so talented.

Common mistake

Not: The view knocked out me.

Say: The view knocked me out.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle — 'knocked me out'.

More on “impress greatly”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

While many films are enjoyable, only a few truly knock audiences out with their originality and emotional impact.

Tell it apart

That meal knocked me out.

  • hugely impressed me

The punch knocked him out.

  • made him unconscious

Goes with

  • knock + out
Practice saying this
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make someone unconsciouseliminate from a competitionimpress greatly