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knock off

B1 informal separable both
In simple words

To stop working, to take or steal something, to finish something quickly, or to lower a price.

Literal meaning: To knock something off a surface — to remove it with a blow.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To stop working, especially at the end of a shift or working day.

"We usually knock off at five, but on Fridays we leave at four."

2 B2 idiomatic slang

To steal something.

"Someone knocked off the catalytic converter from the car parked outside overnight."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To produce or complete something quickly and without great effort.

"She knocked off three articles in a single afternoon."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 idiomatic informal

To reduce the price of something, especially in a sale or negotiation.

"The dealer agreed to knock off another fifty dollars if we paid in cash."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

One of the most versatile phrasal verbs in English with many distinct senses. The sense of 'stop work' is very common in British English. The sense of 'kill' is slang. The sense of 'copy illegally' (a 'knock-off' product) has produced a common noun. All senses are informal.

Commonly used with

work price copy job target quickly early

Forms

Base
knock off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
knocks off
he/she/it
Past simple
knocked off
yesterday
Past participle
knocked off
have + pp
-ing form
knocking off
continuous

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Synonyms

finish stop steal eliminate dash off reduce counterfeit

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