A knock off

Idiom: A knock off

Example 1:

Brandon: Wow, Melissa! Nice bag. It looks really expensive!

Melissa: Thanks, Brandon! Shh. don't tell anyone, it's a knock off. It only cost me $15. The original is over $1,500! It's a pretty good knock off. It looks pretty authentic.

Example 2:

Scott: Jessie, look at these toys. These are terrible knock offs!

Jessie: Ha ha ha! Mickey Mouse isn't supposed to look like that!

Meaning: "A knock off" (noun) is a copy of an original item. This expression is often used when the original item is of designer quality and very expensive. This expression has slightly negative connotations that imply that the copy is of very cheap quality and design.

You can learn more idioms like this in LSI's Intermediate and Advanced Conversation Programs. 

Please see: www.languagesystems.edu for more information.

To knock it off

Idiom: To knock it off.

Example 1: My neighbor is a guitar player (but he's not very good). I try to study at home in the evenings but I can't concentrate with the "music" coming through the walls. Some day, I'm going to go over there and tell him to knock it off. I can't take it anymore!

Example 2:

Cindy: Hey Penny, you look tired. Are you feeling OK?

Penny: Hey.. I didn't sleep much last night. I got a new video game and I've been playing it all day and night for the last 2 days. I only take a break when I get hungry, but I just eat something simple like potato chips so I can get back to playing faster.

Cindy: Penny! You'd better knock it off before you get sick!

Meaning: "To knock it off" (phrasal verb) means to stop doing something annoying or bad. This expression is usually used as a command or imperative.

...I'm going to go over there and tell him to stop it.

...You'd better stop it before you get sick!

In each case, it is the activity that should be stopped.

You can learn more idioms like this in LSI's Intermediate and Advanced Conversation Programs.

Please see www.languagesystems.edu for more information.