General
knock me a kiss
What does knock me a kiss mean?
An affectionate parting line between sweethearts.
"Knock me a kiss before you catch that train."
Origin
1930s-40s Harlem jive slang, built on the jive sense of 'knock me' (give me, hand me) plus a kiss. It was popularized as the title of a 1942 song recorded by Louis Jordan, capturing the romantic side of hepster talk.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'knock me a kiss' mean?
It's a playful jive way of asking someone to give you a kiss.
Where did 'knock me a kiss' come from?
From 1930s-40s jive slang, made famous by the 1942 Louis Jordan song of the same name.
Why 'knock'?
In jive, 'knock me' meant 'give me' or 'hand me,' so 'knock me a kiss' meant 'give me a kiss.'
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