Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rap someone's knuckles

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.22 in modern English

Syllables: rap -some-one's knuck-les
IPA

33

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

4

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

to tap one's knuckles on an object such as a desk or wall to attract attention or as a signal of commmunication.

verb

to give someone a punishment.

Dated

verb

to strike someone on the back of the hand usually as a method of punishment.

Archaic

Example Sentences

"Just rap your knuckles on the wall when you're ready to go."
"The professor let this go for a moment, then began to rap his knuckles on the podium until the room quieted again."
"If the sales department doesn't get organized soon, the CEO is going to rap their knuckles."
"... while political science at Western had received a sharp rap across its knuckles."
"In the old days the teacher would rap someone's knuckles with a ruler if they misbehaved in class."
"...she commanded, sounding for all the world like a mean old schoolmarm about to rap his knuckles with her ruler."

Usage

Inflected Forms

raps someone's knuckles (present, singular) rapping someone's knuckles (participle, present) rapped someone's knuckles (participle, past) rapped someone's knuckles (past)

Questions

What does rap someone's knuckles mean?: to tap one's knuckles on an object such as a desk or wall to attract attention or as a signal of commmunication.

How to pronounce rap someone's knuckles

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