transitive verb
or knock around
1. : to cause to move irregularly and abruptly from one point to another by or as if by repeated blows : jolt , jar
the crowd pushed and shoved and the two boys got knocked about
2. : to treat roughly or subject to difficulties and hardship : mistreat physically or mentally
has been pretty badly knocked around during his life
come into life with large preconceived ideas and are knocked about in consequence — Lionel Trilling