Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

knock on the head

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.32 in modern English

Syllables: knock- on the -head
IPA

31

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To put an end to; to defeat or frustrate (a scheme or project).

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"My young brothers and sisters looked very awestruck at this first glimpse of barbaric life, and I fear many of the theories they had formed about going into the wilds alone, and experiencing some Robinson Crusoe-like adventures, were suddenly "knocked on the head," to use a forcible colonial expression, one, however, which rather pointed to their probable fate if they had attempted anything of the kind."
"The urban myth of the sun shining through Box Tunnel on Brunel's birthday may have been knocked on the head, but in its portal facing designs he created structures which have stood the test of time well."

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

knocks on the head (present, singular) knocking on the head (participle, present) knocked on the head (participle, past) knocked on the head (past)

Questions

What does knock on the head mean?: To put an end to; to defeat or frustrate (a scheme or project).

How to pronounce knock on the head

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