knock someone's block off

English

Alternative forms

• knock off someone's block

Pronunciation

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Verb

knock someone's block off (third-person singular simple present knocks someone's block off, present participle knocking someone's block off, simple past and past participle knocked someone's block off)

1. (slang) To strike a person in the head, causing them to fall to the ground, especially in an unconscious condition; to beat up a person.
   • 1895 February 12, “Ring Gossip”, in Providence News, USA, retrieved 6 July 2011, page 6:

     "I can't stand the sight of him," he would say, "and I'd be glad if somebody would come along and knock his block off—when he was not in the ring."

   • 1941 June 23, “People”, in Time:

     An airport cab starter threatened to knock Fiorello H. LaGuardia's block off when the New York Mayor parked his car across the taxi line.

   • 1957 January 25, “Guard Chief Irked”, in Rock Hill Herald, USA, retrieved 6 July 2011, page 4:

     "If anyone wants to call a guardsman a draft dodger, tell him to stand in front of me and say it and I'll knock his block off," Gen. Fluck said.

   • 2008 February 23, James Barron, “Man Departs a Life Lived on the Fringes of Fame”, in New York Times, retrieved 6 July 2011:

     Mr. Gottfried said Miller announced, “I'm going to knock your block off”— and punched Mr. Jones, who was thrown against a buffet table.

See also

• knock someone off his perch
• knock someone's socks off

Anagrams

• knock off someone's block