Knock back means: To stun; to surprise.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
knock back
(transitive) To stun; to surprise.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(transitive) To stun; to surprise.
I was knocked back by the sheer size of the hall.
For parents
Knock back means: To stun; to surprise.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
For ESL learners
knock back means: To stun; to surprise.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(transitive) To drink an alcoholic beverage swiftly or often; to finish a beverage.
See it in action
“True and I know people who have that fear and they address it in other ways. I just think if bars are open at that time, limits need to be placed on how much people can knock back.”
My friends were already knocking back drinks when I arrived at the bar.
Cluster: alcohol
Heard in the wild
“True and I know people who have that fear and they address it in other ways. I just think if bars are open at that time, limits need to be placed on how much people can knock back.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK
(transitive) To push or strike someone or something backward with force.
The impact of the collision knocked him back several feet.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Used in
UK
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Other words near "knock back" (K)
knob polisherknob-rashknob rotknobstickknobtwatknockknockbackknock bootsknock downknockdownknock down gingerknocked up
Browse all slang words starting with K.