knock (one) dead

knock (one) dead

To strongly impress one. Often used as an imperative to give encouragement. Good luck on the audition! Knock 'em dead, kid! Your design is going to knock the judges dead. They're going to swoon over it.

See also: dead, knock

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

knock dead

Greatly amuse, astonish, or thrill someone, as in This new song will knock them dead. This slangy hyperbolic expression was first recorded in 1889. Also see knock the socks off.

See also: dead, knock

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

knock 'em dead

INFORMAL

If you say that someone or something will knock 'em dead, you mean that they will impress people very much. Glamorous make-up is best reserved for evenings, or days when you want to go all out to knock 'em dead. Note: You can also say that something will knock someone dead. Their debut album is going to knock you dead. Note: The word `'em' is a form of `them' which is used in informal or non-standard English.

See also: dead, knock

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

knock someone dead

greatly impress someone. informal

1991 Julia Philips You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again I'm good at public speaking. I've been knocking them dead at seminars.

See also: dead, knock, someone

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

knock somebody ˈdead

(spoken) impress somebody very much: You look fabulous — you’ll knock ’em dead tonight.

See also: dead, knock, somebody

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

knock someone dead

tv. to put on a stunning performance or display for someone. She knocked us dead with her stunning performance.

See also: dead, knock, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

knock dead

1. To kill with a blow.

2. Slang To affect strongly and positively: a performance that knocked the audience dead.

See also: dead, knock

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.