knock over
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle over
Meanings
Cause something to fall by hitting it
Why “over”? The top moves to the bottom. The object turns over.
“He knocked over his glass.”
“The dog knocked over the bin.”
“I accidentally knocked the lamp over.”
Hit a person with a vehicle, knocking them down
“She was knocked over by a cyclist.”
“A car knocked the runner over at the crossing.”
Don't confuse with
Knock over means cause something to fall by hitting it. Knock back means reject an offer or proposal.
Test yourself
“He knocked over his glass.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
knock back
A contrast learners often mix up
Reject an offer or proposal
boil over
Same over pattern: flip
(of liquid) Overflow while boiling
bowl over
Same over pattern: flip
Make someone fall, or astonish them completely
fall over
Same over pattern: flip
Topple from an upright position to the ground; Try very eagerly to do something ("fall over yourself")
flip over
Same over pattern: flip
Rotate quickly to the other side
keel over
Same over pattern: flip
Fall sideways suddenly, especially because of illness or shock
push over
Same over pattern: flip
Push something so it falls on its side
roll over
Same over pattern: flip
Turn by rotating sideways
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