knockoff
/ˈnɒk.ɒf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɑːk.ɑːf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnäk-ˌȯf/ (ame, mw)
knockoff — noun
- knockoffsingular
- knockoffsplural
1. a cheaper or lower-quality version of a well-known product, usually made to look
a cheaper or lower-quality version of a well-known product, usually made to look almost identical to the original and often sold without the maker's permission.
Kemi bought a knockoff of a designer handbag from a stall in the night market.
a knockoff of [original product]
These watches are knockoffs; real Swiss ones cost about ten times more.
predicative: these X are knockoffs
Customs officers seized hundreds of knockoffs at the port last week.
Bilal says he can spot a knockoff sneaker just by looking at the stitching.
The phone looked real, but the slow screen and odd logo told Dewi it was a knockoff.
- fake
broader; covers any imitation, not just consumer goods
- counterfeit
more formal/legal; emphasises the copy is illegal
- imitation
neutral; can be honest (a 'leather imitation') or deceptive
- replica
often neutral or positive; an open copy, not pretending to be the original
- original
the genuine first version
- genuine article
informal: the real one
文法句型
a knockoff of [brand/product]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a branded consumer product (bags, watches, sneakers, phones, perfume). Often implies the copy is unauthorised, not just cheaper.
常見錯誤
knockoff — adjective
- knockoffpositive
- more knockoffcomparative
- most knockoffsuperlative
1. used before a product name to say the item is a cheaper, lower-quality copy of a
used before a product name to say the item is a cheaper, lower-quality copy of a well-known brand and usually not made by that brand.
Élise refused to wear knockoff perfume; she said the smell faded within an hour.
knockoff + noun (attributive only)
The stall mostly sold knockoff sunglasses and fake Rolex watches.
knockoff paired with another fake-product noun
Hiro's nephew is happy with his knockoff console because the games still load fine.
Adina won't ship knockoff handbags through her store, even if customers ask.
- fake
more general; works both attributively and after 'be'
- counterfeit
stronger, often legal context
- imitation
neutral; sometimes openly declared ('imitation leather')
文法句型
knockoff + noun
用法筆記
Used only before the noun (attributive). Avoid 'the bag is knockoff' — say 'the bag is a knockoff' (noun) or 'the bag is fake / counterfeit' (predicative adjective).
常見錯誤
knockoff — verb
- knockoffpresent simple I / you / we / they
- knockoffs3rd person singular
- knockoffing-ing form
- knockoffedpast simple
1. to finish your work for the day, usually a bit early or at a regular ending time
to finish your work for the day, usually a bit early or at a regular ending time.
Ezra likes to knock off at five so he can pick his daughter up from school.
knock off at [time]
The builders knocked off early because of the heavy rain.
subject = workers; adverb 'early'
Let's knock off for lunch and finish the report this afternoon.
Anjali's team usually knocks off around four on Fridays.
- clock off
British; literally punching out on a time clock
- wrap up
neutral; can refer to one task as well as a whole shift
- call it a day
informal; decide to stop, often when tired
- clock in
start a shift
文法句型
knock off (at [time])
knock off for [event]
用法筆記
Almost always used as the phrasal verb 'knock off' rather than written as one word. Subject is the worker, not the work; do not say 'the work knocks off at five'.
常見錯誤
2. to produce or finish something quickly, often without putting much effort or car
to produce or finish something quickly, often without putting much effort or care into it.
Vinícius can knock off a short article in about an hour when the deadline is tight.
knock off + [piece of work]
Matthew knocked off three watercolour sketches before breakfast on Sunday.
object = creative output
Don't try to knock off the homework on the bus; the teacher will notice.
Tamás knocks off two or three songs a week and posts them straight to the band's page.
- labour over
spend a long time perfecting
文法句型
knock off [a task/piece of work]
用法筆記
Object is usually a small unit of work (a song, a chapter, a sketch, an email). Carries a hint that the speed shows skill, or that the result is rushed — tone depends on context.
常見錯誤
3. to make a cheaper copy of someone else's branded product or design, usually so t
to make a cheaper copy of someone else's branded product or design, usually so that it can be sold as if it were the original.
Several small factories were caught knocking off the new sneaker design within weeks of its launch.
knock off + [branded design]
Lauren's start-up sued a rival firm for knocking off its kitchen scales.
legal-style use: 'sued ... for knocking off'
Christopher's gallery refuses to sell prints from artists who knock off other people's work.
The luxury brand changes its logo every year so that copycats find it harder to knock off the bags.
- rip off
informal; can also mean cheat someone out of money
- imitate
neutral; not always negative
- counterfeit
formal/legal; usually currency or branded goods
文法句型
knock off [a brand/design]
用法筆記
Object is the branded product or design, not the brand owner. Often used in journalism about counterfeit goods or design lawsuits.
常見錯誤
4. to reduce a price or total by a stated amount, especially when bargaining or run
to reduce a price or total by a stated amount, especially when bargaining or running a sale.
Megan asked the seller to knock off ten pounds because the chair had a scratch on one leg.
knock off + [amount]
The shop knocked twenty percent off the marked price during the closing-down sale.
knock [amount] off [the price] — split pattern
Erik knocked five euros off the bill after the waiter spilled coffee on his shirt.
If you pay in cash, Chidi will usually knock a bit off the total.
- add on
increase the total
文法句型
knock [amount] off ([price/total])
用法筆記
The amount comes between 'knock' and 'off' more often than after the whole phrase. The thing being reduced (price, bill, total) follows 'off'.
常見錯誤
5. to rob a place, especially a shop, bank, or other building where money is kept;
to rob a place, especially a shop, bank, or other building where money is kept; mostly used in American crime stories and slang.
In the film, two old friends plan to knock off a small bank in their hometown.
knock off + [a bank/store]
The gang had knocked off three petrol stations along the highway before the police caught up.
past perfect; serial robberies
Valentina's grandfather joked that he could knock off the corner shop with just a paper bag.
The detective suspected the same crew of knocking off jewellery stores across the state.
文法句型
knock off [a place such as a bank/store]
用法筆記
Slang, mostly American. Object is the place being robbed, not the people inside. Outside crime fiction or news, learners are unlikely to need this sense.
常見錯誤
6. to kill someone deliberately, especially in stories about gangs, spies, or hired
to kill someone deliberately, especially in stories about gangs, spies, or hired killers.
In the novel, a hired man is paid to knock off a witness before the trial begins.
knock off + [person]
The mob boss ordered his men to knock off anyone who talked to the police.
imperative-style command verb
Nicholas writes detective stories where someone is knocked off in the first chapter.
The two spies decided it would be safer to knock off the informant abroad than at home.
- bump off
very similar slang; same crime-story register
- do in
informal; can also just mean 'exhaust'
- assassinate
formal; targeted killing of a public figure
- spare
deliberately not kill
文法句型
knock off [a person]
用法筆記
Strong slang; mainly fiction, headlines, or jokey speech. Do not use in serious news or polite conversation — prefer 'kill' or 'murder'.
常見錯誤
7. to beat a strong team or player, especially one that was expected to win or that
to beat a strong team or player, especially one that was expected to win or that holds a top position.
The underdog team knocked off the league champions in the cup quarter-finals.
knock off + [stronger opponent]
Liang knocked off the world number two in straight sets at the Tokyo Open.
knock off + [ranked player] in [tournament]
If our school knocks off the defending champions tonight, we go to the final.
The young chess player has knocked off three grandmasters in this tournament alone.
文法句型
knock off [a top-ranked opponent]
用法筆記
Almost always in sports reporting, and almost always when the loser was the favourite. Object is the higher-ranked opponent, not a teammate or weaker side.