knife
(naɪf )
Word forms: knives , knifes , knifing , knifed language note: knives is the plural form of the noun and knifes is the third person singular of the present tense of the verb.
1. countable noun A2
A knife is a tool for cutting or a weapon and consists of a flat piece of metal with a sharp edge on the end of a handle.
...a knife and fork.
Two robbers broke into her home, held a knife to her throat and stole her savings.
Synonyms: blade, carver, cutter, cutting tool
2. verb [Also VERB noun]
To knife someone means to attack and injure them with a knife.
Dawson takes revenge on the man by knifing him to death. [VERB noun preposition]
Synonyms: cut, wound, stab, slash
3. countable noun
A surgeon's knife is a piece of equipment used to cut flesh and organs during operations. It is made of metal and has a very thin sharp edge.
under the knife phrase
If you go under the knife, you have an operation in a hospital.
Kelly was about to go under the knife when her surgeon stopped everything.
4. See also carving knife, fish knife, flick-knife, palette knife, paper knife, pocket knife, Stanley knife
5. like a knife through butter/like a hot knife through butter phrase
If someone does something like a knife through butter or like a hot knife through butter, they do it very easily.
Japanese companies will be cutting through the competition like a hot knife through butter.
6. you can cut sth with a knife phrase
If you have been in a place where there was a very tense atmosphere, you can say that you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. [mainly British]
Officials hung the flag upside down. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.
7. the knives are out for sb phrase
If a lot of people want something unpleasant to happen to someone, for example if they want them to lose their job, you can say that the knives are out for that person. [mainly British]
The Party knives are out for the leader.
8. to twist the knife phrase
If you twist the knife or if you turn the knife in someone's wound, you do or say something to make an unpleasant situation they are in even more unpleasant.
Travis twisted the knife by laughing at her.
It is the turn of Latvia to twist the knife.
Image of knife
© mjaud, Shutterstock
Idioms:
twist the knife
to deliberately do or say things which make a situation even worse for someone who is already upset or experiencing problems
Jones then twisted the knife with another goal.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
stick the knife in
to deliberately do or say things which will upset another person or cause problems for them
Her colleagues, often eager to stick the knife in, defended her yesterday.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
like a knife through butter
quickly and without any problems
Think about the women who have gone through life like a knife through butter, slicing through every kind of setback and discouragement.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
you could cut the atmosphere with a knife
said to mean that the atmosphere in a place is extremely tense or unfriendly
As soon as we entered the house, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 刀, 用刀砍
Japanese: ナイフ, ナイフで刺す
- dance
- dance choreographer
- dance choreography
- dance class
- dance club
- dance concert
- dance contest
- dance costume
- dance ensemble
- dance festival
- dance floor
- dancefloor
- dance genre
- dance hall
- dance instructor
- dance move
- dance movement
- dance performance
- dancer
- dance recital
- dance rehearsal
- dance rhythms
- dance routine
- dancer wears
- dance scene