knock some sense into
Correct through confrontation
To knock some sense into someone is to make them think more reasonably, often through forceful persuasion or harsh experience.
The phrase suggests that rational behavior must be installed by impact—verbal confrontation, tough consequences, or occasionally literal blows: Maybe losing his job will knock some sense into him.
Someone needs to knock some sense into that kid before he ruins his life.
- convinceCause to believe
- get through toSuccessfully convey a message
- persuadeCause to believe
- understandGrasp the meaning
- pushForce something away
shove · beat into · shake · wake up · wake up call · jolt · rude awakening · reprimand · enlighten · scold · straighten out · explain · tough love · hard lesson · discipline · realize · strike · argue
knock some sense intocoax
Persuade by gentle urging
sweet-talk · cajole · soft-pedal · coddle · win over
knock some sense intoturn a blind eye
Deliberately ignore something obvious
let slide · look the other way · enable · indulge · wash one's hands of
knock, sense, knocks, knocked, knocking, knocker, knockers, senses, sensed