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."
knock off
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To stop work for the day, to steal, to kill, to produce quickly, or to reduce a price.
In plain English
To stop working, to take or steal something, to finish something quickly, or to lower a price.
What does "knock off" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic slang
To steal something.
"Someone knocked off the catalytic converter from the car parked outside overnight."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
To produce or complete something quickly and without great effort.
"She knocked off three articles in a single afternoon."
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To knock something off a surface — to remove it with a blow.
Actually means
To stop working, to take or steal something, to finish something quickly, or to lower a price.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "knock off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work price copy job target quickly early
How to conjugate "knock off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "knock off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "knock off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "knock off"
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