knock over

To hit someone or something so that they fall or tip onto their side.

• I knocked over my glass.
• A car knocked her over as she crossed the road.
• Be careful not to knock the lamp over.

How to use it: knock someone/something over (The dog knocked the vase over.)

Similar words: tip over, topple

Common phrases: knock over something, knock someone over, knock over furniture

To steal money or goods from a place, often using threats or violence.

• They knocked over a bank.
• The thieves knocked over three shops in one night.
• He was caught planning to knock over a casino.

How to use it: knock over a place (The gang planned to knock over a bank.)

Similar words: rob, hold up

Common phrases: knock over banks, knock over something, knock something over

To beat someone badly or kill them.

• The gang threatened to knock him over.
• Two men knocked him over and left him badly injured.
• The boss ordered his men to knock over a rival.

How to use it: knock someone over (They hired a thug to knock him over.)

Similar words: beat up, kill

Common phrases: knock someone over, knock over someone

To finish eating some food or drinking a drink, often quickly.

• He knocked over a beer.
• We knocked over lunch in ten minutes.
• She had knocked over two sandwiches before we arrived.

How to use it: knock something over (He knocked over a beer before dinner.)

Similar words: finish, polish off

Common phrases: knock over lunch, knock over something, knock something over

For police to catch someone and take them into custody.

• The cops knocked him over yesterday.
• Police knocked over two suspects during the raid.
• They finally knocked her over for selling stolen goods.

How to use it: knock someone over (The detectives knocked him over outside his flat.)

Similar words: arrest, nab

Opposites: release

Common phrases: knock someone over, knock over suspects