knocking up
Making someone pregnant
Knocking up has two quite different meanings depending on where you are.
In American English, to knock someone up is to get them pregnant, usually unintentionally: He knocked her up in high school.
In British English, to knock someone up is simply to wake them by knocking on their door: Would you knock me up at seven?
The British sense is innocent but can cause confusion across the Atlantic.
Formation of an idea
- impregnationInfusion or fertilization
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
- pregnantGestating offspring internally
- expectingAwaiting a predicted outcome
conceive · reproduce · procreate · inseminate · gestation · fertility · maternity · paternity
Stir to wakefulness
alarm · summon · call · disturb · rapping · banging · early morning · get up
Build systematically
- buildCreate a structure
- assembleJoin parts together
- cobble togetherAssemble hastily from whatever's available
- improvisePerform without preparation
rig · put together · makeshift · jury-rig · throw together · rustle up · whip up · improvised
conception
Formation of an idea
- impregnationInfusion or fertilization
- fertilizationGamete fusion creating zygote
- pregnantGestating offspring internally
expecting · conceive · reproduce · procreate · inseminate · gestation · fertility · maternity · paternity · parenthood
rouse
Stir to wakefulness
awaken · alarm · summon · call · disturb · rapping · banging · early morning · get up · rise
construct
Build systematically
- buildCreate a structure
- assembleJoin parts together
- cobble togetherAssemble hastily from whatever's available
improvise · rig · put together · makeshift · jury-rig · throw together · rustle up · whip up · improvised
knocking upcontraception
Pregnancy prevention measures
aborting · pulling out · abstaining · shooting blanks · sterilization
knock, knocks, knocked, knocker, knockers, knocking, knockout, knockouts, upping