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knock boots

(slang, euphemistic) To have sexual intercourse, especially recreationally if not casually.

ˈnɑk ˈbutsHistorical169 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(slang, euphemistic) To have sexual intercourse, especially recreationally if not casually.

See it in action
  • “Playing a grandmother who gets to knock boots with Daniel Craig in The Mother.”

You ain't knocking boots/ You ain't treating me like no prostitute
Origin: Perhaps from the notion that boots placed beneath one's bed knock one another due to the shaking of the bed during sex. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"knock boots" is sexual slang. In short, it refers to to have sexual intercourse, especially recreationally if not casually. Among teens it is usually used jokingly, as crude banter, or in TikTok-style algospeak rather than as a serious statement of behaviour. Persistent or aggressive use directed at a specific person, especially online, is the bit worth paying attention to: that can shade into harassment. If you hear it once in a chat with friends, it is probably nothing. Repeated targeted use deserves a conversation about respect.

For ESL learners

"knock boots" is informal English meaning to have sexual intercourse, especially recreationally if not casually. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "to have sexual intercourse" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "knock boots" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

Cluster: sex_act
Heard in the wild
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For specific readers

"knock boots" is sexual slang. In short, it refers to to have sexual intercourse, especially recreationally if not casually. Among teens it is usually used jokingly, as crude banter, or in TikTok-style algospeak rather than as a serious statement of behaviour. Persistent or aggressive use directed at a specific person, especially online, is the bit worth paying attention to: that can shade into harassment. If you hear it once in a chat with friends, it is probably nothing. Repeated targeted use deserves a conversation about respect.

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.

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🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

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