knock up

Definitions

1. 1

   To put together, fabricate, or assemble, particularly if done hastily or temporarily.

   • I'll just knock up a quick demo for the sales presentation.
2. 2

   To awaken (someone) as by knocking at the door

   To awaken (someone) as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also knocker up.

   • However, by dint of beating about a little in the dark, and now and then knocking up a peaceable inhabitant to inquire the way, we at last came to something which there was no mistaking.
   • “Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but it's the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.”
   • ‘I didn't knock you up when I came in,’ Peregrine said. ‘There seemed no point. It was getting light. I just thought I’d leave the note to wake me at seven. And oddly enough I did sleep. Heavily.’
3. 3

   To exhaust

   To exhaust; wear out; tire out; to fatigue until unable to do more.

   • ‘Now, mamma,’ he said, when he went out, ‘take notice, you are not to knock up your god-daughter with gossip,’ [...]
   • The day being exceedingly hot, the want of food had knocked up my followers […]
4. ›+ 5 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To become exhausted or worn out

      To become exhausted or worn out; to fail of strength; to become wearied, as with labor; to give out.

      • […] the horses were beginning to knock up under the fatigue of such severe service […]
      • I met one of your dons at tea, and he said that your degree was not in the least a proof of your abilities: he said that you knocked up and got flurried in examinations.
   2. 5

      To impregnate, especially out of wedlock. See knocked up.

      • I guess his summer plans are shot now that he knocked his girlfriend up.
      • “And how many other girls has he knocked up?” “Would you keep your voice down? Mom's home.” She pressed her hands to her head. “I just don't understand how you could ditch Rowan and get knocked up by Scott, like, right away.”
   3. 6

      To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and…

      To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and to gauge the state of the playing surface, lighting, etc. See knock-up.

   4. 7

      To make even at the edges, or to shape into book form.

      • to knock up printed sheets
   5. 8

      To straighten up a stack of paper.

The neighborhood

• synonymbuild
• synonymwear down
• synonymwear out
• synonymtire
• synonymwake up
• synonymawaken
• synonymimpregnate
• neighborknocked up
• neighborknocker-up
• neighborknocker-upper
• neighborknocking shop