noun
1 tool for cutting
ADJECTIVE
▪ blunt , dull ( esp. AmE )
▪ sharp
▪ serrated
▪ long
▪ small
▪ four-inch , six-inch , etc.
▪ rusty
▪ electric
▪ plastic , silver , steel
▪ kitchen , table
▪ bread , butter , fish , steak
▪ butcher ( esp. AmE ), butcher's ( esp. BrE ), chef's
▪ carving , paring ( esp. AmE )
▪ pocket , Swiss army™
▪ bowie ( esp. AmE ), hunting , sheath ( esp. BrE )
▪ butterfly , flick ( BrE )
▪ Stanley™ ( BrE ), utility ( AmE )
▪ craft ( BrE ), X-acto™ ( AmE )
▪ palette
▪ putty ( AmE )
… OF KNIVES
▪ set
▪
a set of kitchen knives
VERB + KNIFE
▪ pick up
▪
She picked up her ~ and fork and started to eat.
▪ lay down , put down
▪ use
▪
Use a sharp ~ to cut away the spare dough.
▪ sharpen
▪ hold
KNIFE + VERB
▪ cut , slice
▪
That ~ doesn't cut very well—it needs sharpening.
▪ clatter
KNIFE + NOUN
▪ blade , handle
▪ block , holder
▪ sharpener
PREPOSITION
▪ with a/the ~
▪
The lines can be cut with a craft ~.
PHRASES
▪ the blade of a ~ , the handle of a ~
▪ go under the surgeon's ~ ( esp. BrE )
▪
He is to go under the surgeon's ~ ( = have surgery ) again on Thursday.
▪ a ~ and fork
2 used as a weapon
ADJECTIVE
▪ long , sharp
▪ combat ( esp. AmE )
VERB + KNIFE
▪ be armed with , carry , have
▪
She carries a ~ in her bag now.
▪ brandish , point , wave , wield
▪
She pointed her ~ at Richard.
▪
He waved his ~ in her face threateningly.
▪ draw , draw out , produce , pull , pull out , take out , whip out
▪
He suddenly pulled a ~ on me.
▪
She suddenly produced a ~ from her pocket and started brandishing it.
▪ come at sb with , stab sb with , threaten sb with
▪
She stabbed him in the back with a 12-inch ~.
▪ plunge , press , push , put , stick , thrust , twist ( often figurative )
▪
He plunged the ~ deep into her heart.
▪
He pressed the ~ tighter against her throat.
▪
Just to twist the ~ ( = cause additional suffering, tension, etc. ), the filmmakers have provided a surprise ending.
▪ sharpen , whet
KNIFE + VERB
▪ cut sth , pierce sth , slash sth , slice sth , slice through sth
▪
She cried out in pain as the ~ slashed her arm.
▪
She felt a ~ slice her wrist open.
▪ protrude
▪
He was slumped over his desk with a ~ protruding from his back.
KNIFE + NOUN
▪ attack , fight
▪
a frenzied ~ attack
▪
He and his gang had a ~ fight one night.
▪ cut , wound
▪ blade
PREPOSITION
▪ with a/the ~
PHRASES
▪ the blade of a ~ , the hilt of a ~
▪ hold a ~ against sb's throat , hold a ~ at sb's throat , hold a ~ to sb's throat , put a ~ to sb's throat
▪
She put the ~ to his throat to frighten him into silence.
▪ a ~ in sb's heart ( figurative )
▪
Each word he uttered was a ~ in her heart.