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Learn More American Expressions

knock dead

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Puzzle #116 · September 25, 2025
To knock dead is to greatly astonish, or amuse. The phrase ‘knock them dead’, dates to the late 1800's.

Similar phrases like ‘knock their socks off’ are given as encouragement to speakers or entertainers before they go on stage.
Puzzle Appearances

The expression knock dead has appeared in 1 puzzle:

  • Puzzle #116 on September 25, 2025
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print

Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.

Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.

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