English · Phrasal verb Candidate

knock off

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To halt one's work or other activity.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dừng công việc hoặc hoạt động khác

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I think I'll knock off for the evening and go to bed.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To kill.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Giết

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To kill. — To defeat.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Giết hoặc đánh bại

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

to give over, or abandon. A saying used by workmen in reference to dinner or other meal times, for upwards of two centuries.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

ngừng làm hoặc bỏ việc

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “knock off” mean?

To halt one's work or other activity.

Is “knock off” formal or informal?

knock off is generally slang.

👁 Views 0 today 0 past 7 days 0 this month 0 all time