conk
/kɒŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /kɑːŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkäŋk ˈkȯŋk/ (ame, mw)
conk — noun
- conksingular
- conksplural
1. a humorous or informal word for a person's nose, used especially in British Engl
a humorous or informal word for a person's nose, used especially in British English
The boxer took a punch right on the conk and stumbled backward.
collocation: punch on the conk
Little Mei wiped her conk with the back of her sleeve after sneezing.
The clown wore a bright red plastic conk that honked when squeezed.
Amit caught a terrible cold and his conk would not stop running.
用法筆記
This sense is highly informal and would sound strange in formal writing. It is most common in British English humorous contexts or old-fashioned slang.
常見錯誤
conk — verb
- conkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- conkshe / she / it
- conkedpast simple
- conking-ing form
1. to strike someone hard on the head, especially with a heavy object
to strike someone hard on the head, especially with a heavy object
A loose roof tile fell off and conked the postman right on the head.
conk + [person] + on the head
Karim accidentally conked his younger sister with the wooden toy train.
The robber conked the security guard with a lead pipe and fled.
In the old comedy film, the chef gets conked by a frying pan every time he opens the cupboard door.
文法句型
conk + [person] + on the head
conk + [person] + with [object]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrase 'conk someone on the head/on the noggin.' When the object is specified, use 'with' (conked him with a bat). The passive form 'get conked' is common in informal storytelling.
常見錯誤
2. to die, used informally and often humorously, especially about pets or in lighth
to die, used informally and often humorously, especially about pets or in lighthearted contexts
The old family cat finally conked out at age eighteen last winter.
phrasal: conk out = die (informal)
My goldfish conked out overnight and floated to the top of the bowl.
Uncle Budi joked that he planned to conk out on his own sofa, not in a hospital bed.
- kick the bucket
similar informal/humorous register; slightly more common
- pass away
formal and respectful; opposite register to conk out
- croak
very informal slang for die; even cruder than conk out
文法句型
conk out
用法筆記
Almost always appears as 'conk out' rather than 'conk' alone. The tone is deliberately casual or humorous and would be inappropriate for formal condolences or serious announcements.
常見錯誤
3. to suddenly lose consciousness from exhaustion, heat, or illness; or to fall int
to suddenly lose consciousness from exhaustion, heat, or illness; or to fall into a very deep sleep from tiredness
After running the marathon, Lukas conked out on the grass before reaching his car.
conk out = collapse from exhaustion
The summer heat was so intense that three hikers nearly conked out on the trail.
Ananya stayed up all night writing her thesis and conked out at her desk at dawn.
The toddler conked out in his car seat just five minutes into the drive home.
文法句型
conk out
用法筆記
This sense of 'conk out' is the most common one in everyday speech. Unlike the 'die' sense, it is perfectly natural for people and carries no harsh or insensitive tone — it simply means falling asleep or fainting from exhaustion.
常見錯誤
4. if a machine, vehicle, or piece of equipment conks out, it suddenly stops workin
if a machine, vehicle, or piece of equipment conks out, it suddenly stops working, usually because of a mechanical problem
Our car conked out on the highway and we had to call a tow truck.
conk out = break down (vehicles)
The old refrigerator finally conked out and we lost all the frozen food.
Diego's laptop conked out right before he saved his final project.
The generator conked out during the typhoon, leaving the whole building in darkness.
- break down
neutral register; implies a more serious or lasting failure
- die
informal; used for engines and electronics that stop completely
- give out
slightly more formal; implies the object can no longer function
- work
neutral opposite
- run smoothly
describes good functioning
文法句型
conk out
用法筆記
Used for mechanical or electronic devices that stop functioning unexpectedly. Unlike 'break down' which can suggest a serious long-term problem, 'conk out' sometimes implies a temporary or minor failure. Common for vehicles, small appliances, and electronics.