Green’s Dictionary of Slang

knocked out adj.

[knock out v. (2a)]

1. (US) bankrupt.

[UK]Sl. Dict.
[US]J. Maitland Amer. Sl. Dict.
[US]Owen Johnson Max Fargus 291: Oh, I’m knocked out!
[US]W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 162: Not a knocked-out heister [...] rolling drunks.
[US]W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 25: The world was a pretty good place after all when a poor knocked-out broad like this could give you a belly. What the hell kind of life could she possibly have? Whatever it was it wasn’t funny.

2. (also knocked) exhausted.

[US]Ade Artie (1963) 50: You look knocked out.
[Aus]H. Lawson ‘The Bush Fire’ in Roderick (1972) 434: ‘Oh Bob [...] I’m knocked out’ — and she slipped down ionto his arms and stayed there awhile.
[US]D. St John Memoirs of Madge Buford 112: The knocked out hymen breaker withdraw.
[UK]O.C. Malvery Soul Market 51: I’m knocked, that’s wot’s the matter; ill, ’ungry, and knocked.
[US]E. O’Neill Anna Christie Act I: Gee, I sure need that rest! I’m knocked out.
[UK]Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves 87: Bicky seemed pretty well knocked out, so I put in a word.
[Aus]K.S. Prichard Coonardoo 261: Coonardoo had seen Phyllis knocked out after a long day.
[US](con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 575: Oh, I’m knocked out.
[Aus](con. 1936–46) K.S. Prichard Winged Seeds (1984) 230: ‘It’s not good enough, darling,’ Eily said, distressed to see Daphne so knocked out.
[US]W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 67: Can you imagine a knocked-out broad like that? Good kid. Sure. But she’s been round the wheel, brother.
[US]Baker et al. CUSS 159: Knocked out Very tired.
[US](con. 1960s) R. Price Wanderers 49: Rest time. Don’t wanna get knocked out.
[UK](con. 1880) P. Ackroyd Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem 207: What I want you to do now is have a little sleep. You’re all knocked out.

3. (also knocked) overwhelmed.

[US]J. Hawthorne Confessions of Convict 146: The perfume of the flowers scented the air. I was knocked out, boy!
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 7 July 32/1: I was that knocked I just jumped on the horse, snatched my rifle, and made for home as fast as he would carry me.
[Aus]T.E. Spencer ‘Liza’ in Budgeree Ballads 83: I’m that fair knocked out that ’arf me time I don’t know what I do.
[US]P.E. Miller Down Beat’s Yearbook of Swing n.p.: knocked out: so inspired by the music as to be oblivious of everything but the music being played.
[US]D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 26: We were all knocked out by that Stud’s classy lid.
[UK]T. Keyes All Night Stand 113: I was knocked out [...] when he asked us to come and see you record.
[US]R. De Christoforo Grease 67: Danny was [...] with a knocked-out looking girl.
[UK]‘Derek Raymond’ He Died with His Eyes Open 31: I’m not knocked out by all the excitement in here, I must say.
[UK]K. Sampson Powder 101: She’d seen them not a year before and was knocked out by them.
[UK]K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 23: Fonzie’s not exactly knocked out to see my own cheery kipper knocking at the door.

4. (US) heavily intoxicated.

[US]L. Axley ‘Drunk’ Again’ in AS IV:6 440: knocked out.
[US]A. Hardin ‘Volstead English’ in AS VII:2 87: Terms referring to the state of intoxication: Knocked out.
[US]Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Sl.
[US]‘William Lee’ Junkie (1966) 23: Herman was knocked out on ‘nembies’ and his head kept falling down onto the bar.
[US]‘Lou Rand’ Gay Detective (2003) 97: Tiger [...] was actually not as knocked-out as he appeared to be.
[SA]E. Cole House of Bondage 140: For such drinkers the goal is simply to ‘get knocked out fast’.
[US]B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 122: knocked-out (adj.) 1. blind drunk 2. stoned on drugs.
[US](con. 1940s–60s) H. Huncke ‘Sea Voyage’ in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 142: While in Aruba we had picked up yen-pox and stayed knocked out the whole time we were there.
[UK]N. Barlay Hooky Gear 218: Essential oil. You get knocked out worse than Mickey.

5. (US) stylish, excellent.

[US]L. Durst Jives of Dr. Hepcat (1989) 3: And every trip of the train some knocked out cat is upping sonic real crazy licks and dropping it on the bop kick.
[US]B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 122: knocked-out (adj.) [...] 5. good in every sense of the word.
[US]E. Torres Carlito’s Way 17: I have had knocked-out-lookin’ broads.