knock off meaning and examples thumbnail

knock off meaning and examples

2025-09-20

Meaning

  • Knock off is a phrasal verb with several meanings depending on the context:

    1. To stop working (informal).
    2. To reduce a price or amount.
    3. To make a cheap copy of something (slang).
    4. To quickly complete or produce something.
    5. (Informal/slang) To kill or defeat someone.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb

  • Patterns:

    • knock off (work) = stop working
    • knock off + amount = reduce (price/score)
    • knock off + object = create or copy something quickly
    • knock sb off = kill someone (informal, slang)

Common Phrases

  • knock off work – finish working
  • knock off the price – reduce the cost
  • knock off a copy – make a cheap imitation
  • knock off early – finish earlier than usual

Collocations

  • knock off + early
  • knock off + some money
  • knock off + a report/task
  • knock off + brand/product

Examples

  1. We usually knock off work at 6 p.m.
  2. The shopkeeper agreed to knock off $10 from the price.
  3. They knocked off a fake version of the designer bag.
  4. I managed to knock off three essays in one afternoon.
  5. Let’s knock off early and go for a drink.
  6. The gang planned to knock off the rival boss. (slang, violent)
  7. She can knock off a whole novel in just a few weeks.
  8. The teacher knocked off a few marks for spelling mistakes.
  • stop work, finish up, wrap up
  • discount, reduce
  • copy, imitate
  • complete, dash off

Antonym

  • start work
  • increase (the price)
  • original (vs. copy)
  • prolong/continue (opposite of finishing quickly)