knock the socks off (someone or something)

knock the socks off (someone or something)

1. To thoroughly impress, overwhelm, or excite someone. The show of support from everyone just knocked the socks off me. Apparently that movie really knocked the socks off Tim—he's been raving about it since he came home.

2. To completely outclass, outdo, or outperform someone or something; to soundly defeat or best someone or something. Wow, this coffee knocks the socks off the stuff we get back home. Catherine knocked the socks off the other kids in the spelling bee.

See also: knock, off, sock

knock someone's socks off

 and knock the socks off (of) someone

Sl. to surprise someone thoroughly. (Fixed order. Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The exciting news just knocked my socks off! The news knocked the socks off of everyone in the office.

See also: knock, off, sock

knock the socks off

Also knock someone's socks off.

1. Overwhelm, bedazzle, or amaze someone, as in The young pianist knocked the socks off of the judges, or That display will knock their socks off. [Slang; mid-1800s]

2. Also, knock the spots off. Surpass or outdo completely, defeat. For example, These large chains have been knocking the socks off the small independent grocers, or Our team knocked the spots off them. The spots most likely allude to target practice with playing cards where the object is to shoot through all the pips, spots, or marks indicating the suit or numerical value of a playing card, but one authority holds that they were used in a horse-breeding context and meant "to be in the vanguard." [Mid-1800s]

See also: knock, off, sock

knock the socks off someone

INFORMAL

1. If something or someone knocks the socks off someone, they impress them. Stritch has been knocking the socks off Broadway audiences with her one-woman show. Note: You can also say that something or someone knocks your socks off. The next act is going to knock your socks off! Note: The verb blow is sometimes used instead of knock. This is the latest in screen technology and it will blow your socks off.

2. If something or someone knocks the socks off other people or things, they are much better than them. They're not cheap but they knock the socks off other models on the market. For personal service and value, they knock the socks off larger hotels.

See also: knock, off, sock, someone

knock the socks off someone

beat or surpass someone. informal

See also: knock, off, sock, someone

knock (someone's) socks off

Slang

To overwhelm or amaze.

See also: knock, off, sock