knocked him down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'knocked him down' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was physically forced to the ground by another person. For example: "The bully knocked him down with a powerful punch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you knocked him down, you only made him mad".

The New York Times - Sports

He pursued his man and knocked him down again.

The Guardian - Sport

A car knocked him down on the way home.

The Guardian - Books

And even in that fight, Lopez knocked him down twice.

The New York Times - Sports

"I knocked him down," replied the young lady.

The New Yorker

When he got up, a second wave knocked him down again.

The New York Times - Science

Maidana knocked him down, and although Ortiz quickly jumped to his feet, his shoulders were slumping.

The New Yorker

Lyle caught Foreman with a left-right combination that knocked him down in the fourth round.

The New York Times - Sports

Then the bear pounced on him and knocked him down, he said.

Independent

Myers saw the fan coming, dropped his glove and knocked him down with his forearm.

The New York Times - Sports

Time and again, the Patriots abruptly knocked him down and spectacularly batted away his passes.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a physical altercation, use "knocked him down" to clearly convey the action of someone being forced to the ground due to impact.

Common error

Avoid using "knocked him down" metaphorically when describing emotional or psychological setbacks. Opt for phrases like "disheartened him" or "undermined his confidence" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "knocked him down" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive phrasal verb, where "knocked" is the verb and "down" is the particle. It describes a direct action causing someone to fall. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

10%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "knocked him down" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the act of causing someone to fall to the ground. As Ludwig AI points out, its use is deemed correct and versatile across various contexts, most commonly in news and media, as supported by numerous examples. While the phrase is generally neutral, it's important to consider the specific context to ensure appropriateness, avoiding metaphorical use where a more nuanced description is needed. Consider using semantically similar phrases like "floored him" or "sent him sprawling" for variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

floored him

Indicates a strong blow that causes someone to fall to the ground.

laid him out

Implies a knockout or a forceful blow that renders someone unconscious on the ground.

sent him sprawling

Implies a forceful action that causes someone to lose balance and fall in a disorganized manner.

sent him crashing down

Highlights the impact and force of the fall.

sent him to the canvas

A boxing term for knocking someone down.

threw him to the ground

Suggests throwing somebody down on the ground.

toppled him

Implies a loss of balance and a fall, often from a height or unstable position.

brought him to his knees

Suggests a humbling or debilitating action that forces someone to kneel.

pushed him over

Implies that someone has been physically pushed and as a result they are falling down.

overthrew him

Implies a forceful action that causes someone to lose their balance and fall over.

FAQs

What does "knocked him down" mean?

The phrase "knocked him down" means that someone has physically struck another person, causing them to fall to the ground.

What can I say instead of "knocked him down"?

You can use alternatives like "sent him sprawling", "floored him", or "laid him out" depending on the context.

Is "knocked him down" grammatically correct?

Yes, "knocked him down" is grammatically correct. "Knocked" is the past tense of the verb "to knock", and "him" is a pronoun referring to the male subject.

Can "knocked him down" be used in a figurative sense?

While primarily used to describe a physical action, "knocked him down" is best reserved for the literal sense. For emotional or metaphorical setbacks, consider using phrases like "disheartened him" or "undermined his confidence".