knife

 
Pronunciation: /nʌɪf/

noun (plural knives /nʌɪvz/)

  • an instrument composed of a blade fixed into a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon.
  • a cutting blade forming part of a machine.

verb

[with object]
  • stab (someone) with a knife: he was knifed to death during the argument
  • [no object, with adverbial] cut or move cleanly through something with a knife-like action: a shard of steel knifed through the mainsail

Phrases

before you can say knife

informal very quickly; almost instantaneously.

that one could cut with a knife

  • 1(of an atmosphere) very tense or oppressive.
  • 2(of an accent) very obvious or strong.

get (or stick) the knife into (or in) someone

informal be malicious or vindictive towards someone.

go (or be) under the knife

informal have surgery.

the knives are out (for someone)

informal there is open hostility (towards someone).

like a (hot) knife through butter

very easily; without any resistance or difficulty: anti-aircraft fire would slice through the car like a hot knife through butter

twist (or turn) the knife (in the wound)

deliberately make someone’s sufferings worse.

Derivatives

knife-like

adjective

knifer

noun

Origin:

late Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, of Germanic origin

Spelling rule

Change the -fe to -ves to make the plurals of nouns that end in a consonant or a single vowel plus -f or -fe: (knives).