knock on / knocking on a bit [grow old]

[SuprunP]

knock on
informal grow old
she's knocking on a bit
Oxford Dictionary of English

I've heard it used once on BBC Radio London's Drivetime show with Eddie Nestor by Eddie Nestor himself (if memory serves). Since only two of my dictionaries actually register this meaning (namely Oxford Dictionary of English and The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition) I would be grateful if you could tell me whether you know this phrasal verb, have heard it or use it.

Thanks.

 

[Keith Bradford]

Absolutely! Very common British informal, but (I think) always in the complete phrase "knocking on a bit". You never hear She isn't knocking on, or he's knocking on a lot.

 

[Loob]

I would be grateful if you could tell me whether you know this phrasal verb, have heard it or use it.

Yes, yes, and yes.

----

PS. Keith's right about the importance of "... a bit"

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

I have never heard it or read it before now. I assume that it is another British colloquialism that is unknown in American English.

 

[dermott]

Never heard it before either. Must be my Australian English roots.

 

[Keith Bradford]

It was unknown before 1969, and is still only 1/20th as popular as the similar "getting on a bit" with an identical meaning.

 

[Parla]

I agree with GWB (post #4); I've neither heard nor read it.

 

[jacdac]

This question has been added to a previous thread.
Please scroll up and read from the top.
Cagey, moderator

‘And the tourists? Anyone there raise any concerns?’ ‘They all seemed perfectly happy to look and listen to the guides,’ Den said. ‘A lot of them were knocking on a bit. Couldn’t see them shinning up a drainpipe after a Turner seascape.’
Source: Darkness on the Fens by Joy Ellis
Context: Greenborough’s annual tradition of celebrations and festivals are underway. “Dark Greenborough” celebrated the darker side of life, and explored the town’s mysterious, sometimes notorious, happenings. Old “haunted” houses were opened to the public, groups of “ghost walkers” trailed round the streets at night led by guides carrying lanterns. Pubs and restaurants took on otherworldly themes and old murders and terrible deeds were reenacted in makeshift street “theatres,” while all manner of spookily dressed street entertainers roamed around, performing for anyone who cared to watch and throw them a few coins.

What does knocking on a bit mean? The dictionary definition - getting older - does not make sense. Your thoughts?

Thank you.

 

[bennymix]

These are guesses as to local dialect: getting tired; lackadaisical; walking about {knocking about}; complaining mildly.

ADDED: See Andy, below; these guesses are wrong, though the first is vaguely close.

 

[Andygc]

The dictionary definition - getting older - does not make sense.

Yes it does, although that definition is not quite right. It isn't "getting older", it is "growing old". They are knocking on a bit = they are elderly. Hence

Couldn’t see them shinning up a drainpipe

I can't see elderly tourists climbing up a drainpipe.

< Threads merged. Thank you. Cagey, moderator >

 

[JulianStuart]

I don't see why the getting older meaning would not apply. How old is Den? He may view them as "older"

 

[Andygc]

By the way, which dictionary are you using, jacdac? Lexico (Oxford online) is clear.

knock on
phrasal verb

1 informal Grow old.
‘she's knocking on a bit’

2 also knock the ball on Rugby
Illegally drive the ball with the hand or arm towards the opponents' goal line.

It was unknown before 1969

According to the Shorter Slang Dictionary (Fergusson, from Partridge and Beale) it dates from the 1930s.