knockabout

Multiple Entries:
  knockabout    knock  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
knockabout/ˈnɒkəbaʊt/

▶adjective

• 1 denoting rough, slapstick comedy.

• 2 (of clothes) suitable for rough use.

▶noun

• 1 US a tramp.

• 2 Austral./NZ a farm or station handyman.

• 3 N. Amer. a small yacht or dinghy.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
knock/nɒk/

▶verb

• 1 strike a surface noisily to attract attention.

  ■ strike or thump together or against something.

  ■ (of a motor) make a thumping or rattling noise.

• 2 collide forcefully with.

  ■ force to move or fall with a blow or collision: he knocked over a glass of water.

  ■ injure or damage by striking.

• 3 make (a hole, dent, etc.) in something by striking it.

  ■ bring into a specified condition by blows or rough treatment: two rooms had been knocked into one.

• 4 informal criticize.

• 5 (be knocking) Brit. informal be approaching (a specified age): he's knocking seventy.

▶noun

• 1 a sudden short sound caused by a blow.

  ■ a continual thumping or rattling made by an engine.

• 2 a blow or collision.

• 3 a setback.

  ■ informal a critical comment.

• 4 Cricket, informal an innings.

– phrases
knock it off informal stop doing something.
knock someone on the head euphemistic kill someone.
knock something on the head Brit. informal put an end to an idea, plan, etc.
knock spots off Brit. informal easily outdo.
the school of hard knocks painful or difficult but useful life experiences.

– phrasal verbs
knock about (or around) informal

• 1 spend time or travel without a specific purpose.

• 2 happen to be present.

knock something back informal consume a drink quickly.
knock something down

• 1 (at an auction) confirm a sale by a knock with a hammer.

  ■ informal reduce the price of an article.

• 2 US informal earn a specified sum as a wage.

• 3 Austral./NZ informal spend a pay cheque freely.

knock off informal stop work.
knock someone off

• 1 informal kill someone.

• 2 Brit. vulgar slang have sex with a woman.

knock something off

• 1 informal produce a piece of work quickly and easily.

• 2 informal deduct an amount from a total.

• 3 Brit. informal steal something.

  ■ N. Amer. informal rob a shop.

  ■ N. Amer. informal copy something illegally.

knock on

• 1 informal grow old.

• 2 (also knock the ball on) Rugby illegally drive the ball with the hand or arm towards the opponents' goal line.

knock someone out

• 1 make someone unconscious.

  ■ knock down (a boxer) for a count of ten.

  ■ informal astonish or greatly impress someone.

• 2 eliminate a competitor from a knockout competition.

knock something out

• 1 destroy or disable equipment.

• 2 informal produce work at a steady, fast rate.

• 3 Austral./NZ informal earn a specified sum of money.

knock something over N. Amer. informal rob a shop.
knock someone sideways informal astonish someone.
knock something together assemble something roughly and hastily.
knock up Brit. informal (in a racket game) practise before play begins.
knock someone up

• 1 Brit. awaken someone by knocking at their door.

• 2 informal, chiefly N. Amer. make a woman pregnant.

knock something up

• 1 Brit. make something hurriedly.

• 2 Cricket score runs rapidly.

– origin OE cnocian, of imitative origin.