■ verb
1》 strike a surface noisily to attract attention.
↘strike or thump together or against something.
↘(of a motor) make a thumping or rattling noise.
2》 collide forcefully with.
↘force to move or fall with a blow or collision: he ~ed over a glass of water.
↘injure or damage by striking.
3》 make (a hole, dent, etc.) in something by striking it.
↘bring into a specified condition by blows or rough treatment: two rooms had been ~ed into one.
4》 informal criticize.
5》 ( be ~ing ) Brit. informal be approaching (a specified age): he's ~ing seventy.
■ noun
1》 a sudden short sound caused by a blow.
↘a continual thumping or rattling made by an engine.
2》 a blow or collision.
3》 a setback.
↘ informal a critical comment.
4》 Cricket, informal an innings.
Phrases
~ it off informal stop doing something.
~ someone on the head euphemistic kill someone.
~ something on the head Brit. informal put an end to an idea, plan, etc.
~ spots off Brit. informal easily outdo.
the school of hard ~s painful or difficult but useful life experiences.
Phrasal verbs
~ about (or around ) informal
1》 spend time or travel without a specific purpose.
2》 happen to be present.
~ something back informal consume a drink quickly.
~ something down
1》 (at an auction) confirm a sale by a ~ with a hammer.
↘ informal reduce the price of an article.
2》 US informal earn a specified sum as a wage.
3》 Austral./NZ informal spend a pay cheque freely.
~ off informal stop work.
~ someone off
1》 informal kill someone.
2》 Brit. vulgar slang have sex with a woman.
~ something off
1》 informal produce a piece of work quickly and easily.
2》 informal deduct an amount from a total.
3》 Brit. informal steal something.
↘ N. Amer. informal rob a shop.
↘ N. Amer. informal copy something illegally.
~ on
1》 informal grow old.
2》 (also ~ the ball on ) Rugby illegally drive the ball with the hand or arm towards the opponents' goal line.
~ someone out
1》 make someone unconscious.
↘~ down (a boxer) for a count of ten.
↘ informal astonish or greatly impress someone.
2》 eliminate a competitor from a ~out competition.
~ something out
1》 destroy or disable equipment.
2》 informal produce work at a steady, fast rate.
3》 Austral./NZ informal earn a specified sum of money.
~ something over N. Amer. informal rob a shop.
~ someone sideways informal astonish someone.
~ something together assemble something roughly and hastily.
~ up Brit. informal (in a racket game) practise before play begins.
~ someone up
1》 Brit. awaken someone by ~ing at their door.
2》 informal, chiefly N. Amer. make a woman pregnant.
~ something up
1》 Brit. make something hurriedly.
2》 Cricket score runs rapidly.
Origin
OE cnocian , of imitative origin.