knock-it-down

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

To show, in the "free and easy" style, approval of a song or toast, by hammering with pot or glass on the table.

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.

Common questions

What does “knock-it-down” mean?

To show, in the "free and easy" style, approval of a song or toast, by hammering with pot or glass on the table.

Is “knock-it-down” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.