Knock knock meaning in English
Learn how to use Knock knock correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to knock (on, at a door): to bang, to tap (at the door, so that somebody will let you in)
to hear a knock at the door: to hear a noise, a bang at the door
"knock knock": onomatopoeia that imitates the sound of knocking at the door; a type of joke (that usually finishes with a play on words)
-Knock Knock! -Who’s there? -Ken. -Ken who? -Ken I come in? It's freezing out here!
Pronunciation examples
UK: I thought someone was knocking at the door, but there was nobody there.
US: I will knock on your door at 9AM to wake you up.
Examples
- "Knock knock Luna : Hello Woody, come on in!"
- "There was a girl knocking on my door all night."
- "Knock knock Luna : Ah, come in!"
- "knock on your door out of the blue saying that they notice that your roof / driveway / windows / walls need urgent work."
- "Polly : Knock Knock."
- "Brian : Knock knock!"
- "Philip : Knock knock!"
- "Jean knocks on Philip's door"
- "Knock knock Hannah : Come in!"
- "This is where many of our most powerful fragrances come from. Knock knock, Horatio?"
- "Now, use the secret knock."
- "Knock Knock Horatio : Who is it?"
- "(knock knock)"
- "Knock knock Luna : Woody!"
Exercise 1
This exercise will knock you out!
From the list below choose all the sentences which use the expression 'to knock out' correctly.
Note that the 'k' in 'knock' is silent, like the terms 'know' and 'knife'.
From the list below choose all the sentences which use the expression 'to knock out' correctly.
Note that the 'k' in 'knock' is silent, like the terms 'know' and 'knife'.
This exercise will knock you out!
From the list below choose all the sentences which use the expression 'to knock out' correctly.
Note that the 'k' in 'knock' is silent, like the terms 'know' and 'knife'.
From the list below choose all the sentences which use the expression 'to knock out' correctly.
Note that the 'k' in 'knock' is silent, like the terms 'know' and 'knife'.
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' correctly, in the same sense as Kevin uses the expression in this dialogue. 'To be knocked out' before an operation refers to being drugged (using anesthesia or gas for example). Note that the expression indicates 'losing consciousness' or being 'rendered unconscious'.
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' incorrectly. Although 'being knocked out' refers to being rendered unconscious, the expression can't be used to describe 'fainting' or 'losing consciousness' as a result of drinking to much. A better choice here is 'pass out': I drank so much that I passed out. Note that a strong cocktail can 'knock you out', but you can't 'knock out on the floor' as the result of drinking too much.
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' incorrectly. We knock 'on' or 'at' someone's door, not 'out'. The use of prepositions after the verb 'to knock' changes the meaning of the expression entirely. To knock out (a person): to render unconscious. To knock on, at (a door): to tap on it. To knock up (a girl): to impregnate!
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' correctly, meaning to physically render someone unconscious, usually by striking them in the head. Boxers often 'knock each other out' with punches, and their 'knock outs' (or 'K.O.s') are recorded as a measure of their success. This is also the origin of the term 'k.o.' (sometimes used as a verb)! This use of the expression is similar to Kevin's question in the dialogue about 'using anesthetic to knock him out'), however Kevin wants to be rendered unconscious by the use of drugs, and not a punch!
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' correctly, meaning to 'eliminate from a competition'. This is a very different use of the expression than in the dialogue, when Kevin is asking to be drugged during the surgery!
This sentence uses the expression 'to knock out' correctly, figuratively describing that a woman's beauty had a great or stunning effect on the speaker, like he had been physically struck or hit. This expression is commonly used to describe the stunning or powerful effect of something (a film, a person, a book, etc.) Note that a beautiful person can also be described as 'a knockout'!
Exercise 2
"A hurricane has hit Puerto Rico, killing 1 goat." (sentence not used in the audio)
The verb to hit is synonymous with to in this context.
"Radio Rhubarb's News Round-Up of newsworthy events..."
A newsworthy event is one which is .
The verb to hit is synonymous with to in this context.
"Radio Rhubarb's News Round-Up of newsworthy events..."
A newsworthy event is one which is .
"A hurricane has hit Puerto Rico, killing 1 goat." (sentence not used in the audio)
The verb to hit is synonymous with to strike 1 in this context.
"Radio Rhubarb's News Round-Up of newsworthy events..."
A newsworthy event is one which is interesting for the media 2.
The verb to hit is synonymous with to strike 1 in this context.
"Radio Rhubarb's News Round-Up of newsworthy events..."
A newsworthy event is one which is interesting for the media 2.
1 strike: This is the correct answer. The verbs "to hit" and "to strike" are often used to describe an adverse event (such as a storm or earthquake) affecting or coming into violent contact with a place. Example: The tornado hit (or struck) the town last night. Both verbs are irregular: hit/hit/hit and strike/struck/struck or stricken.
1 punch: This is incorrect. To "punch" is to hit or strike someone with a closed hand, the fingers forming a hard "ball". In other contexts, "to punch" shares a similar meaning with "hit", but not in this context.
1 blow: This is incorrect. To "blow" is to expel air from the mouth. The noun, "a blow" shares a similar meaning with "a hit", both describe a sudden shock (by a fist or a weapon).
1 knock: This is incorrect. "To knock" is to strike with a hard blow, such as one may do to a door. In other contexts, "to knock" shares a similar meaning with "hit", but not in this context.
2 interesting for the media: This is correct. A "newsworthy" event is sufficiently interesting to be reported as news. The suffix "-worthy" describes something of sufficient worth or merit. Example: A trustworthy person is someone who is reliable, or warrants to be trusted.
2 sensationalist or tabloid: This is incorrect. "Newsworthy" does not describe something that is sensationalist or "tabloid" (lurid or appearing in tabloid newspapers).
2 exclusive: This is incorrect. "Newsworthy" does not describe an exclusive media report.
2 factual: This is incorrect. "Newsworthy" does not share a similar meaning with "factual" or something which contains facts.
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