knockout

Everyday

1. In boxing, a knockout is a punch or a win when a fighter is knocked down and cannot get up in time. tree →
2. A knockout competition is one where the loser of each game leaves, until one winner is left. tree →
3. (informal) A knockout is something or someone extremely good or beautiful: «The show was a knockout». tree →

In the lessons

In sport lessons and the news it describes tournaments: «the knockout stage of the World Cup». In maths, pupils count the games in a knockout tournament: with 16 teams, there are 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15 games. In everyday talk, «a knockout» is high praise. Phrases: «knockout round», «knockout punch», «knock-out blow».

Examples

• The boxer won by a knockout in round three. tree →
• England reached the knockout stage. tree →
• In a knockout cup, if you lose you go home. tree →
• With 32 teams in a knockout, there are 31 matches. tree →
• Her singing was an absolute knockout. tree →
• That was a knockout idea! tree →
• The dodgeball game was a knockout: hit players are out. tree →

Note

Spelled as one word, or with a hyphen (knock-out, UK). The verb is two words: «knock out». Maths trick: in a knockout with n teams, there are always n − 1 games, because every game knocks out exactly one team. Being «knocked out» in real life (losing consciousness) is a serious injury; see a doctor.