To take the knock, verb. phr. (turf). To lose more to the bookmakers
than one can pay; to be dead broke (q.v.).
1890. Globe, 21 April, p. 6, col. 1. Many a broken backer of horses
who has taken, what is known in the language of the turf, as the
knock over the many fiascoes associated with this particular horse,
etc.
To be knocked off one’s pins, verb. phr. (common).—To be flabbergasted
(q.v.).
1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlvii. He confessed to
himself that he was completely bowled over,—knocked off his pins!
That knocks me, phr. (common).—That confounds, or is too much for me.
To be knocked into the middle of next week, verb. phr. (common).—To be
astounded; to get badly beaten; ‘to be knocked into a Cocked hat’
(q.v.).
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii. 4. Up comes these young sparks,
and gave me such a maulagaran, that they knock’d me into the middle
of next week—beside tipping me this here black eye—only see how red
it is!
1837. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, p. 334 [ed. 1857]. If Mr. Namby
would have the goodness to put his hat on again, he would knock it
into the latter end of next week.
1847. Porter, Quarter Race etc., p. 105. The next moment he was
knocked into the middle of the next three weeks!
b. 1852. Traits of Amer. Humour, p. 50. Arch would fetch him er
side wipe on the head, and knock him into the middle of next week.
Knockabout, subs. (theatrical).—An actor of violent and noisy
pantomime: a special genre.
1891. Sportsman, Ap. 1. The Armstrongs maintain their position as
two of the best knockabout artistes.
Knock-about man, subs. (Australian).—A jack-of-all-trades (q.v.); a
handy man.
1881. A. C. Grant, Bush Life, i. 80. Knockabout men: that is men
who are willing to undertake any work.
Knock-down (or knock-me-down), subs. (old).—Strong ale: stingo (q.v.).
Also = gin.
1515. De Generibus Ebriosorum etc. [J. E. Hodgkin in Notes &
Queries, 3 S. vii. 163]. In this treatise occurs a chapter on the
various kinds of beer then in use in Germany.... The catalogue
which follows shows that even the names of fancy drinks are not new
under the sun; and that the ‘Eye-openers’ and ‘Cocktails’ of the
Yankee bars had their prototypes in the mediæval tap-rooms. I
select a few of the most presentable: Cow’s-tail, Calves-neck,
Buffalo, Slip-slop, Stamp-in-the-Ashes, Knock-’em-down,
Crowing-Cock, Wild-oats, Red-head, Raise-head, Swell-nose, and
Gnat’s-mustard.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1698. Sorbière, Journey to London in the Year 1698, p. 35 [quoted
in Notes and Queries, 6 S. xii. 167]. He answer’d me that had a
thousand such sort of liquors, as Humtie Dumtie, Three Threads,
Four Threads, old Pharaoh, knockdown....
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Knock.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Knock-me-down.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
1885. Notes and Queries, 6th S. xii. 232. A very strong ale or
beer.
Adj. (old).—Rowdy.
1760. Foote, Minor, i. No knock-me-down doings in my house ... no
rioters.
Knock-down and Drag-out, subs. phr. (pugilistic).—A free fight.
1848. New York Spirit of the Times, 30 Sept. There are good, quiet,
easy people in the world who scarcely open their lips or raise
their fingers, lest Dogberry So-and-so across the way might take it
in high dudgeon, and forthwith demand an explanation or a
knock-down and drag-out.
1852. Judson, Myst. etc. of New York, xii. p. 83. ‘We must have a
fight!’ said Butcher Bill. ‘What shall it be?’ asked Mr. Shorter—‘a
genteel knock down, or a knock down and drag out?’
b. 1852. Traits of American Humour, p. 48. Mike ... in a regular
knock-down and drag-out row was hard to beat.
Knock-’em-down Business, subs. phr. (common).—Auctioneering.
Knock-’em-downs, subs. (common).—Skittles.
1828. Jon Bee, Picture of London, 263. The charms of
nine-pins—whether this be of skittles, knock-’em-downs,
bowl-and-tip, dutch-pins, or the more sturdy four-corners.
1872. Fun, Sept. A man, the proud possessor of knock-me-downs, was
brought up at Wandsworth police-court the other day for plying his
trade on Putney Common.
Knocker, subs. (venery).—1. The penis (Urquhart): see knock, verb.
sense 1. For synonyms see Creamstick and Prick.