1 B2 idiomatic informal
To produce or complete something quickly and with apparent ease.
"The designer knocked one out in an afternoon — the client was thrilled with the result."
separable
knock one out
B2 informal separable transitive
To impress someone greatly, or to produce something with speed and ease.
In plain English
To make something really quickly, or to completely amaze someone.
What does "knock one out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To deeply impress or astonish someone.
"Her vocal performance on that last track really knocked one out — no one expected it."
separable
Usage tip
Informal variant of 'knock out.' Often used colloquially to mean producing something quickly ('I'll knock one out by lunch') or impressing someone ('That performance knocked one out'). Also used informally to mean to masturbate (vulgar slang — be careful with context). Most common in casual spoken English.
Words that pair with "knock one out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
quickly by lunch overnight performance speech
How to conjugate "knock one out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
knock one out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
knocks one out
he/she/it
Past simple
knocked one out
yesterday
Past participle
knocked one out
have + pp
-ing form
knocking one out
continuous
Hear "knock one out" in the wild
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