What Does “Knock sth off” Mean?
“Knock sth off” is a phrasal verb that means to reduce the price or amount of something, or to finish something quickly. It is often used in informal English.
Introduction
The phrase knock sth off is a common phrasal verb in English with several uses. Most often, it means to reduce the price of an item. For example, if something costs $50, and the seller says they will knock $5 off, it means they will lower the price to $45. Another meaning is to remove or take something off quickly or to finish a task fast. Understanding the knock sth off meaning helps learners use this phrase naturally in conversations, whether shopping, working, or talking about tasks.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: knock something off
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To reduce or remove something, often price or amount
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Knock sth off” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between “knock” and “off” or after “off.”
- knock + something + off (e.g., knock $10 off)
- knock off + something (e.g., knock off $10)
Both forms are correct, but the first is more common when the object is a noun or pronoun.
How to Use “Knock sth off”?
You use “knock sth off” mainly to talk about reducing prices or amounts. For example, a shopkeeper might knock $5 off the price to encourage a sale. It can also mean to finish work quickly or to remove something by hitting it.
In informal speech, you might hear:
- “Can you knock $10 off the bill?” (reduce the price)
- “I knocked off early today.” (finished work early)
- “He knocked the cap off the bottle.” (removed by hitting)
Examples
Here are some natural ways to use “knock sth off in a sentence”:
- The store agreed to knock $15 off the price because the item was damaged.
- If you pay cash, I can knock $20 off the total.
- We need to knock this project off by Friday.
- She knocked a few points off her test score by missing easy questions.
- He knocked the lid off the jar to open it.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or meaning. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Knock off $20 the price.
- Correct: Knock $20 off the price.
- Incorrect: Can you knock off the bill $5?
- Correct: Can you knock $5 off the bill?
Remember, the object (price, amount) usually goes between “knock” and “off.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “cut down,” “take off,” and “reduce.” However, “knock sth off” often implies a quick or informal reduction, especially in prices.
- Cut down: To reduce something gradually or over time.
- Take off: To remove something physically.
- Reduce: A formal way to say lower or decrease.
“Knock sth off” is more casual and often used in everyday conversation about discounts or finishing tasks.
Common Collocations
You often hear “knock sth off” with prices, amounts, time, or points. Here are common collocations:
- knock money/price off – reduce cost
- knock time off – finish early
- knock points off – lose marks
- knock work off – complete quickly
- knock something off – remove by hitting
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of knock sth off:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is an example conversation using “knock sth off”:
Customer: This jacket is a bit expensive. Can you knock $10 off?
Shopkeeper: Sure, I can knock $10 off for you.
Customer: Great! I’ll take it.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “knock sth off”:
- The seller decided to ______ $5 ______ the original price.
- We need to ______ this report ______ before the meeting.
- He accidentally ______ the cap ______ the bottle.
FAQs
- What does “knock sth off” mean? It means to reduce or remove something, often a price or amount.
- Is “knock sth off” formal? No, it is mostly used in informal situations.
- Can I say “knock off $10 the price”? No, the correct form is “knock $10 off the price.”
- Can “knock off” mean finish work? Yes, it can mean to stop working or finish a task quickly.
- What are synonyms for “knock sth off”? Some synonyms include “cut down,” “reduce,” or “discount.”
