sock-knocking: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘sock-knocking’ mean?
Sock-knocking: To surprise or impress someone greatly. "Her performance was incredible, it really sock-knocked the audience!"
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "tickle someone's funny bone" means to amuse or make someone laugh.
When someone's jaw drops, it means they are extremely surprised or shocked by something they have just heard or seen.
The idiom "snatch the pebble" refers to the act of successfully achieving a difficult goal or completing a challenging task, often requiring skill, precision, or resourcefulness.
The idiom "snap someone's head off" means to respond to someone in a rude, aggressive, or overly hostile manner. It implies a sharp and dismissive reaction, often leaving the other person feeling disrespected or intimidated.
The idiom "smash hit" means a very successful and popular event, product, or performance. It refers to something that is extremely well-received and generates a large amount of excitement and positive feedback.
The idiom "shock to the system" refers to a sudden and profound change or event that has a strong impact on someone or something, often causing a sense of surprise or disorientation.
The idiom "put a sock in it" means to tell someone to be quiet or to stop talking, usually because they are being annoying or loud.
The idiom "put a sock in it" is commonly used in American English to tell someone to be quiet or to stop talking. The exact origin of this idiom is unclear, but there are several theories and possibilities.
The idiom "one's socks off" means to do something with great enthusiasm, energy, or skill. It emphasizes the intensity and impressive nature of the action or performance.
The idiom "knock the stuffing out of" means to greatly weaken or defeat someone or something, typically through a powerful physical or emotional blow or shock.
The idiom "knock the living daylights out of" means to beat or hit someone very hard, often causing them to lose consciousness or be severely injured.
Incredible Impact
The idiom "knock someone's socks off" is closely related to sock-knocking. It shares a similar meaning, describing something that is extremely surprising or impressive. However, "knock someone's socks off" is often used to emphasize the positive aspect of the surprise or impressiveness, whereas sock-knocking can be used for both positive and negative surprises or shocks.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *sock-knocking* can be used in a sentence:
- Her performance was so incredible that it was truly sock-knocking.
- The unexpected twist at the end of the movie was absolutely sock-knocking.
- The teacher's passionate speech about climate change was a real sock-knocking moment for the students.
More "Surprise" idioms
