knock-me-downadj.n.
colloquial.
A. adj.
Such as to knock one down (literal or figurative); violent, riotous; overbearing, defiant; prostrating, overpowering.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective]
retheeOE
hotOE
strongOE
woodlyc1000
un-i-rideOE
stoura1122
brathc1175
unridec1175
unrudec1225
starklyc1275
toughc1275
wood1297
ragec1330
unrekena1350
biga1375
furialc1386
outrageousc1390
savagea1393
violenta1393
bremelya1400
snarta1400
wrothlya1400
fightingc1400
runishc1400
dour?a1425
derfc1440
churlousa1450
roida1450
fervent1465
churlish1477
orgulous1483
felona1500
brathfula1522
brathlya1525
fanatic1533
furious1535
boisterous1544
blusterous1548
ungentle1551
sore1563
full-mouthed1594
savage wild1595
Herculean1602
shrill1608
robustious1612
efferous1614
thundering1618
churly1620
ferocient1655
turbulent1656
efferate1684
knock-me-down1760
haggard-wild1786
ensanguined1806
rammish1807
fulminatory1820
riproarious1830
natural1832
survigrous1835
sabre-toothed1849
cataclysmal1861
thunderous1874
fierce1912
cataractal1926
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > [adjective] > domineering or overbearing
masterfulc1390
pontificalc1440
overmasterfula1450
headya1513
imperious1529
supercilious1536
masterlya1544
termagant1546
law-like1556
masterlike1580
dictator-like1582
peremptory1590
domineering1598
burly1605
high-handed1606
pontificial1613
lording1629
overlordingc1629
pontifician1629
peremptor1630
dictatory1639
predominant1642
dictatorial1692
pontific1716
overbearing1718
dictativea1774
knock-me-down1848
imponenta1882
bossy1882
heavy-handed1883
seigneurial1970
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > weakening
macerating1631
languishing1683
knock-me-down1896
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [adjective]
rankOE
peacockly?a1425
ruffling1531
garish1545
peacockish1551
peacock-like1576
ostentatious1590
fastuous?1591
flaring1593
flantitanting1596
ostentive1599
ostentative1601
showful1607
flourishable1614
flourishing1616
flaunting1624
ostentous1624
ostentatory1638
swasha1640
fanfaron1670
paradeful1748
ostensible1782
epideictic1790
fandangous1797
flashy1801
affiché1818
show-off1818
splashing1820
flaunty1825
splash-and-dash1830
pretentious1832
flash1836
splashy1836
pretenceful1841
swanky1842
peacocky1844
fantysheeny1847
splurgy1852
cheesy1858
pretensivea1868
duchessy1870
swagger1879
lavish1882
splurging1884
show-offy1890
razzmatazz1900
show-offish1903
whoop-de-do1904
Ritz1908
split-arse1917
swanking1918
ritzy1919
fantoosh1920
knock-me-down1922
showboating1936
showboat1939
hellzapoppin'1945
zazzy1961
glitzy1966
sploshy1966
zhuzhy1968
noncy1989
bling1999
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [adjective] > overcoming or overwhelming
tyrannous1549
overwhelming1567
overpowering1616
overbearing1639
surprising1645
defeating1661
knock-down1690
overcoming1704
knocking1711
knock-me-down1944
1760 S. Foote Minor i. 42 No knock me-down doings in my house.
1848 J. H. Newman Loss & Gain (1858) ii. xviii. 250 He's so positive, so knock-me-down.
1863 ‘Ouida’ Held in Bondage I. ix. 198 The overbearing, knock-me-down Marchioness..who gave the law to everybody.
1896 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. I. 691 The term ‘knock-me-down fever’ (applied sometimes to dengue).
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xii. [Cyclops] 293 And Bloom, of course, with his knockmedown cigar putting on swank with his lardy face.
1944 D. Thomas Let. 31 Dec. in Sel. Lett. (1966) 270 I haven't read more than a scattered few of the poems..stopping with delight..at many knock-me-down lines.
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 26 Dec. 757/1 Its current number deals with the very subject..and it does so in a brisk, knock-me-down way which is extremely refreshing.
1967 Listener 16 Feb. 235/1 It was not yet fashionable for poets to present themselves as knock-me-down sales representatives of verse.
B. n.
= knock-down n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > types or qualities of intoxicating liquor > [noun] > strong
strong drinkc1405
ipse1634
knock-down1698
hogan1702
knock-me-down1756
milk1784
hot stuff1823
chain lightning1825
sudden death1834
hardware1835
stagger-juice1905
sting1929
strongers1939
screech1944
rocket fuel1958
1756 W. Toldervy Hist. Two Orphans II. 112.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Knock-me-down, strong ale.
1892 Daily News 3 Aug. 6/1 A savant who muddled my poor brains with geological knock-me-downs which he declares will be heard in Section C.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.n.1756