knock-knock

• knock knock

Onomatopoeic.

• Audio (US):

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knock-knock (colloquial)

1. A verbal emulation of a knocking sound.
2. A phrase used in lieu of knocking on a door.
3. Used to introduce a knock-knock joke.

   Knock-knock. / Who's there? / Wendy. / Wendy who? / Wendy you want to open the door?

• knock-knock burglary
• knock-knock joke

• ding dong

knock-knock (third-person singular simple present knock-knocks, present participle knock-knocking, simple past and past participle knock-knocked)

1. (ambitransitive, colloquial) To make such a sound, as by knocking on (something).
   • 1993 March 31, Jack Straw, “Poll tax dies but haunts democracy: The damage to councils will be difficult to repair, argues Jack Straw”, in The Independent‎^[1], London: Independent News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 June 2022:

     Formally, the poll tax will die today, but it will carry on knock-knocking from the grave.

   • 2013 October 27, David Carr, “Gawker Kicks Open the Closet, but Its Disclosure Barely Reverberates”, in The New York Times‎^[2], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 31 October 2013:

     The reporter also knock-knocked his house.

   • 2019 September 8, Sarah Baxter, “Sun, squats and 'suicide sprints' – is this punishing Sri Lankan retreat worth the sweat?”, in Chris Evans, editor, The Daily Telegraph‎^[3], London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 21 March 2020:

     A golden-backed woodpecker knock-knocked on a tree while whistling ducks flew overhead; there were few other people.

   • 2021 February 14, Sam Baker, quoting Christopher Skaife, “Charity that runs Tower of London spent £350K over last five years caring for its famous ravens […]”, in Daily Mail‎^[4], London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 February 2021:

     We used a special clicking noise — like a knock-knocking sound. So she'd chat with me and allow me to stroke her beak.

knock-knock (plural knock-knocks) (colloquial)

1. Such a sound.
   • 2003 October 27, Richard Lacayo, “Architecture: The Art of Wrap”, in Time‎^[5], New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 January 2026:

     For the Philharmonic and its subscribers, the essential thing was to get the acoustics right, which is a task of near impossible complexity. What kind of space can do justice, say, to the plunks and skittering knock-knocks in Lou Harrison’s Concerto in Slendro and also to the sustained, exalted moan of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony?

   • 2006 August 14, David Carr, “Reporters on Film: Drunks and Tarts”, in The New York Times‎^[6], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 January 2026:

     There are few solid leads, but the possibility of "the wood," a front-page tabloid story, drives him as he makes seemingly fruitless knock-knocks in the neighborhood. "We don't have an address, we don't know if it's racial," he explains to the camera.

   • 2023 April 28, Carolyn Hax, “Carolyn Hax: Fiance would rather buy experiences than engagement ring”, in The Washington Post‎^[7], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 January 2026:

     The jewelry thing is just the first time you’ve noticed the knock-knock of the bigger issues at your door.

2. Synonym of knock-knock joke.
   • 1983 August 3, Georgia Dullea, “METROPOLITAN DIARY”, in The New York Times‎^[8], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 May 2015:

     In the spirit of Tom Swifties and knock-knocks, John W. Little 2d has invented a word game called the Bridge of Sys.

   • 1993, Leonard Kessler, Old Turtle's 90 Knock-Knocks, Jokes, and Riddles:

     (see title)

   • 1997, Sterling Publishing Company Staff, Fun with Little Giants: Little Giant Book of Knock-Knocks and Little Giant Book of Optical Illusions:

     Then here's a collection to last you a lifetime, or until you've driven your parents and friends crazy, whichever comes first. This is the biggest knock-knock treasury you'll ever find

   • 2006, Bob Phillips, Awesome Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids:

     This collection of the crazy and zany is from Bob Phillips—which means everyone who hears these comic gems will laugh hysterically and fall to the ground in awe of the most awesome knock-knocks ever invented.

   • 2013 December 24, Jason Samenow, “Partly to mostly funny: interview with Jon Malay, author of new weather joke book”, in The Washington Post‎^[9], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 February 2022:

     Malay, a past president of the American Meteorological Society, compiled some 232 pages of jokes – from knock-knocks to puns to cartoons.

   • 2017 November 22, Sam Sifton, “Thanksgiving Leftovers Fit for a King”, in The New York Times Magazine‎^[10], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 November 2017:

     There are knock-knocks and you-made-its, hugs and lots of luggage and bottles of wine.