Knock off sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Knock off sth” Mean?

“Knock off sth” is a phrasal verb that means to stop working on something, to produce a copy of something illegally, or to reduce the price of something. The exact meaning depends on the context.

Introduction

The phrase “knock off sth” is commonly used in everyday English with several related meanings. It can mean finishing work or stopping an activity, making a cheaper or fake version of a product, or lowering a price. Understanding the knock off sth meaning helps you use it correctly in conversations and writing. This phrasal verb is versatile and appears in casual speech, business settings, and discussions about goods or time management. By learning its different uses, you can improve your English fluency and avoid confusion when you hear or read it.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: knock off sth (knock off something)
• Type: transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: to stop working, produce a fake, or reduce price

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Knock off sth” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object either between “knock off” or after it.

• knock off something
• knock something off

For example:

• They knocked off work early today.
• They knocked work off early today.
(less common but possible with some objects)

Usually, with longer objects, it’s more natural to place the object after the phrasal verb.

How to Use “Knock off sth”?

You can use “knock off sth” in different contexts:

• To stop working: When someone finishes working or stops an activity, especially early.
• To copy or imitate: When a product is illegally copied or made cheaply.
• To reduce price or amount: When you subtract an amount from a price or total.

Depending on the meaning, the tone and context will change. It’s important to listen carefully or check the sentence to understand which meaning applies.

Examples

Here are some natural examples of knock off sth in a sentence:

• We usually knock off work at 5 PM.
• The company was caught knocking off designer handbags.
• They knocked off $20 from the original price.
• After a long day, she decided to knock off early.
• These shoes are cheap because they are a knockoff of a famous brand.

Common Mistakes

Many learners confuse the placement of the object or the meaning of “knock off sth”. Here are some incorrect vs correct examples:

• Incorrect: I knocked off early work today.
  Correct: I knocked off work early today.
• Incorrect: They knocked off a fake product.
  Correct: They knocked off a copy of the product.
• Incorrect: Can you knock off the price 10 dollars?
  Correct: Can you knock 10 dollars off the price?

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “knock out,” “knock down,” and “call off,” but they have different meanings. “Knock out” means to make someone unconscious, “knock down” means to hit and cause to fall, and “call off” means to cancel.

“Knock off” specifically relates to stopping work, copying products, or reducing amounts. Synonyms for stopping work could be “finish up” or “clock out.” For copying products, “pirate” or “fake” are similar but less informal.

Common Collocations

“Knock off” often pairs with certain objects. Here are some common collocations:

• Knock off work: to stop working
• Knock off a price/amount: to reduce cost
• Knock off a product/item: to produce a fake or copy
• Knock off early: to finish work before the usual time

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of knock off sth:

• Knock Sth Off
• Knock Sth About
• Knock Sb Around
• Knock Sth Out
• Knock Sth Back

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “knock off sth”:

Anna: What time do you usually knock off work?

Ben: Around 6 PM, but sometimes I knock off early if I finish my tasks.

Anna: That sounds nice. Do you know if those bags are real?

Ben: No, they’re knockoffs. They look similar but are cheaper copies.

Practice

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:

• She usually _______ work at 5 PM.
• a) knocks off
  b) knocks out
  c) knocks down
• They _______ $15 off the price.
• a) knocked off
  b) knocked out
  c) knocked down
• This watch is a _______ of a famous brand.
• a) knockoff
  b) knockout
  c) knockdown

FAQs

• What does “knock off sth” mean?
  It can mean to stop working, make a fake copy, or reduce a price depending on the context.
• Is “knock off” separable?
  Yes, you can place the object between “knock” and “off” or after “knock off.”
• Can “knock off” be used in formal writing?
  It is more common in informal or conversational English.
• What is a “knockoff”?
  A “knockoff” is a fake or imitation product made to look like the original.
• How do I use “knock off” to talk about prices?
  You can say “knock $10 off the price” to mean reduce the price by $10.