Knock something into a cocked hat
verb phrase
To demolish, esp to disprove, invalidate, or show the falsity of a statement, plea, etc: This knocks our whole case into a cocked hat
[1833+; literally ”flatten,” since a naval officer’s cocked hat could be flattened]
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- Knock something out
verb phrase To make or produce, esp rather quickly and crudely: I haven’t got time to knock the script out myself (1856+)
- Knock the bottom out of
Also, knock the props out from under. Render invalid, undermine. For example, The discovery of another planet that might support life knocks the bottom out of many theories, or Jane’s skilled debating knocked the props out from under her opponent. The first expression dates from the late 1800s, the variant from the first half of […]
- Knock the habit
verb phrase To stop taking drugs, esp end a drug addiction
- Knock the living daylights out of
Also, knock the shit or stuffing or tar out of . See beat the living daylights out of
- Knock them in the aisles
Related Terms lay them in the aisles