knee jerk
Unthinking instant response
A knee jerk is the involuntary kick of the lower leg when the tendon below the kneecap is tapped—a reflex doctors test to assess nerve function.
Figuratively, a knee-jerk reaction is automatic and unthinking, made without consideration: His knee-jerk response was to blame someone else.
The hyphenated form works as an adjective: knee-jerk conservatism.
Of the kneecap
- tendonMuscle-to-bone connector
- hammerTool for striking nails
- tapValve controlling liquid flow
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
arc · stimulus · response · quadriceps · spinal cord · motor neuron · afferent · efferent
Operating without intervention
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- reactiveTending to respond
- gutDigestive tract, or instinct
- unthinkingLacking conscious thought
visceral · snap judgment · hasty · rash · unconsidered · unreflective · unpremeditated · immediate
patellar
Of the kneecap
neurological · arc · stimulus · response · quadriceps · spinal cord · motor neuron · afferent · efferent · synapse
automatic
Operating without intervention
unthinking · visceral · snap judgment · hasty · rash · unconsidered · unreflective · unpremeditated · immediate · spontaneous
- body responsesfight, flight, shivering, freeze, goosebumps
- Kneepatella, meniscus, ACL, LCL, knee joint
- reflexesreflex, reflex action, reflex response, startle reflex, stretch reflex
- body idiomsheart of gold, heart of stone, cold heart, warm heart, soft heart
- body reflexesreflex, reflex actions, blinking, sneezing, coughing
- Neuromuscularmotor neuron, motor cortex, motor control, acetylcholine, skeletal muscle
knee jerkdeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
intentional · calculated · premeditated · planned · purposeful
knee jerkthoughtful
Showing careful consideration
reasoned · reflective · judicious · careful · analytical
kneel, knees, kneecap, jerks, knelt, reflexes, knee-jerk, jerking, kneels