knock (one) dead
(redirected from 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.
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.
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
INFORMALIf 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.
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.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
knock somebody ˈdead
(spoken) impress somebody very much: You look fabulous — you’ll knock ’em dead tonight.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.
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.
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.