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.
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.
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.
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.
knock somebody ˈdead
(spoken) impress somebody very much: You look fabulous — you’ll knock ’em dead tonight.knock someone dead
tv. to put on a stunning performance or display for someone. She knocked us dead with her stunning performance.
knock dead
1. To kill with a blow.
2. Slang To affect strongly and positively: a performance that knocked the audience dead.