knee
Joint between thigh and lower leg
The middle joint in your leg that lets it bend.
[someone]'s knee
- She felt a sharp pain in her right knee after running.
- The doctor examined his swollen knee carefully.
- He knelt down, resting on one knee to propose.
- My knee hurts after I play football.
- She put ice on her knee.
- I have a cut on my knee.
Hit or push using the knee
To hit or push something with your knee.
to knee [someone/something]
- The player was penalized for kneeing his opponent during the match.
- She accidentally kneed the table while standing up.
- He kneed the ball forward during practice.
- He kneed the ball into the goal.
- I kneed the door to close it.
- She kneed her friend as a joke.
Part of trousers over the knee joint
The part of pants that covers your knee.
- There was a tear in the knee of his jeans.
- Her trousers were dirty at the knees after gardening.
- The tailor patched the worn knees of his pants.
- I have a hole in the knee of my jeans.
- My pants are wet at the knees.
- The knees of my trousers are dirty.
- Base: knee
- Plural: knees
- Base: knee
- 3rd Person Singular: knees
- Present Participle: kneeing
- Past: kneed
bring someone to their knees
1Cause defeat or helplessness
To make someone lose all power or strength.
- The war brought the country to its knees.
- The storm brought the city to its knees.
cut off at the knees
1Weaken position or confidence suddenly
To make someone much weaker or less confident suddenly.
- His boss cut him off at the knees by canceling the project.
- The sudden rule change cut the team off at the knees.
take a knee
1Kneel on one leg for respect/protest
To go down on one knee to show respect or protest.
- The players took a knee during the anthem.
- He took a knee to tie his shoe.
knee-jerk reaction
1Automatic unthinking response
A quick answer or action without thinking carefully.
- Her comment was just a knee-jerk reaction to criticism.
- Don't make a knee-jerk decision without considering the facts.
knee-jerk reaction
2An immediate unthinking response
A quick answer or action without thinking carefully first.
- His comment was just a knee-jerk reaction to criticism.
- Don't make a knee-jerk reaction—think it over first.
on bended knee
1Kneeling to show respect or ask
Kneeling down to show respect or to ask for something important.
- He proposed to her on bended knee.
- The knight pledged loyalty on bended knee.
on bended knee
2kneeling while asking for something
Kneeling, usually to ask for something important like forgiveness or marriage.
- He went to her on bended knee and asked for forgiveness.
- Traditionally, the proposal is made on bended knee.
- The image of a singer on bended knee has become a cliché in music videos.