knock into a cocked hat
The phrase "knock into a cocked hat" likely originates from the image of a tricorn hat being knocked out of shape, symbolizing thorough defeat or disruption.
Definition
C1General
(informal, dated)To thoroughly defeat or surpass someone or something.
Example
- Their new product knocked the competition into a cocked hat.
- Her performance knocked all other contestants into a cocked hat.
C1General
(informal, dated)To render something ineffective or insignificant.
Example
- The new evidence knocked his argument into a cocked hat.
- The unexpected turn of events knocked their plans into a cocked hat.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "knock into a cocked hat":
knock the living daylights out ofcocked hatknock overblow out of the waterbowl overknock downknock outknock upkick into touchtake someone's head offhit one out of the ballparkknock backbeat the daylights out ofturn on its headknock inup to the knockerknock abouttalk through one's hatknock out of the boxbeat the stuffing out ofsmack outlay a glove onhit the roofbang offflip one's lidput one overblow the roof offtake one's hat off toknock offoff one's headhit someone for sixknock it offhats offcome a cropperknock under