knock someone or something on the head

knock (someone or something) on the head

Primarily heard in UK.

1. To promptly prevent something, especially an idea, suggestion, or plan, from being developed, proliferated, or carried out. We need to knock this notion of forming a union on the head before it gets too far. He's been trying to knock the rumours on the head, but by now nearly everyone has heard them.

2. To stop (doing) an activity or behavior. You need to knock that smoking on the head before the baby arrives. I briefly got into computer programming, but I knocked it on the head when things got more complicated.

See also: head, knock, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

knock someone or something on the head

decisively prevent an idea, plan, or proposal from being held or developed. British informal

The image in this phrase is of stunning or killing a person or an animal by a blow to their head.

See also: head, knock, on, someone, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017