knock over

hit something or someone and make them fall

B1

What does "knock sth/sb over" mean?

To knock something over means to hit or push it so that it falls from an upright position. It most often describes accidents — for example, bumping into a glass of water and sending it onto its side, or a pet jumping up and toppling a plant pot. The action involves something that was standing upright losing its balance and falling. You can use it for small everyday objects like cups and lamps, or for larger things like a bin or a roadside sign hit by a vehicle. Because it is so closely linked to accidents, you will often hear it with words like 'accidentally' or 'nearly'.

Examples

How to use it

knock over + object

The most common pattern, used when the object is a full noun phrase, especially a longer one.

He knocked over a stack of cups when he reached across the counter.

knock + object + over

This separated form is very natural with short noun objects and is extremely common in everyday speech.

She knocked the lamp over while she was looking for her keys.

knock + pronoun + over

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'knock' and 'over' — this placement is not optional.

There was a vase right at the edge of the table and I nearly knocked it over.

be knocked over (by + agent)

The passive form works naturally, especially when the focus is on the object that fell rather than who or what caused it.

Several signs were knocked over by the strong winds overnight.

accidentally / nearly + knock over + object

These adverbs are very common with this phrasal verb because it so often describes unintentional actions.

I accidentally knocked over my coffee while I was typing.

Common Collocations

knock over a glassknock over a vaseknock over a lampaccidentally knock overknock over a chairknock it over

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must come between 'knock' and 'over'. Placing it after 'over' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ I knocked over it when I walked past.
✓ I knocked it over when I walked past.
Confusing 'knock over' with 'knock down'

'Knock over' describes tipping or toppling something that was upright, and is the natural choice for objects like glasses, vases, or bins. 'Knock down' is more common when talking about demolishing structures or a person being strongly felled — for example, by a vehicle or in a fight.

✗ The builders knocked over the old wall to make space for the extension.
✓ The builders knocked down the old wall to make space for the extension.
Using 'knock over' without an object

'Knock over' always needs an object — it cannot be used on its own without saying what was knocked over.

✗ I bumped into the table and knocked over.
✓ I bumped into the table and knocked the cup over.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It most often describes accidents, so you'll frequently hear it with 'accidentally' or 'nearly'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'knock over' describe something that happens by itself, like a vase falling in the wind?

Not exactly — 'knock over' implies that something external hit or pushed the object. If the wind caused it to fall, you would say 'the wind knocked it over', which still has a clear cause. If an object falls with no external force, 'fall over' or 'tip over' would be more natural.

Does 'knock over' always mean it was an accident?

Not always, but it is very strongly associated with accidental actions. If someone knocks something over on purpose, you would usually add context to make that clear, such as 'he deliberately knocked it over'. Without that kind of signal, most listeners will assume it was accidental.

Can I use 'knock over' when a vehicle hits a person?

Yes, you can use 'knock over' when a vehicle hits a person and they fall, for example 'a cyclist was nearly knocked over by a van'. However, 'run over' suggests something more serious — specifically that the vehicle's wheels passed over the person. If you just mean the vehicle hit them and they fell, 'knock over' is appropriate.

What kinds of things can be knocked over?

It works with a wide range of objects — everyday things like glasses, cups, vases, lamps, plant pots, chairs, and bins, as well as outdoor objects like bollards, signs, and display stands. It can even describe a vehicle knocking over a pedestrian or a cyclist. Essentially, if something was upright and got hit so that it fell, 'knock over' fits.

Is 'I'm knocking it over' a natural thing to say?

It sounds a little unnatural in most situations. The present continuous works in English when you are narrating an action as it happens — like in a commentary — but 'knock over' usually describes a quick, sudden event rather than something ongoing. In almost all everyday situations, you would use the simple past ('I knocked it over') or say 'I nearly knocked it over'.

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