knock up
To wake someone up by knocking (British), or to make something fast, or (slang) to make a woman pregnant.
Meanings
(British) To wake someone by knocking on their door.
"Could you knock me up at seven tomorrow morning? I don't have an alarm."
(British) To prepare or make something quickly, especially food.
"She knocked up a fantastic pasta dish in under twenty minutes."
(North American, vulgar slang) To make a woman pregnant.
"He knocked her up and then refused to take any responsibility."
(British, informal) To tire someone out completely; to exhaust.
"That long shift at the hospital really knocked me up."
Strongly regional: in British English, 'knock up' means to wake someone by knocking or to prepare something quickly. In North American English, it almost exclusively means to make someone pregnant (vulgar/slang). ESL learners should be aware of this significant regional difference to avoid embarrassment.
Commonly used with
Forms
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