knock sideways
Completely throw someone
To knock someone sideways is to shock or astonish them, leaving them emotionally unbalanced: The news of her death knocked me sideways.
The image is of being struck so hard you stagger.
British English predominantly.
- appalShock with horror
- dismayDistressed loss of courage
- take abackShock or disconcert suddenly
- shovePush with force
- disgustIntense physical aversion
disrupt · startle · catch off guard · jostle · bewilder · throw for a loop · stun · derail · bowl over · impact · upend · overwhelm · hit hard · perplex · blindside · confound · gobsmack · blow away