why do people say "knock yourself out" when they mean "go ahead"?

Question

I use the phrase myself but I've always wondered way it means to go ahead and do something.

Answer 1

It's kind of a sarcastic way of saying it, as though the task is beneath you, but they can go ahead and pursue it

Answer 2

Knock Yourself Out Meaning

Answer 3

I've always taken it to mean "overwhelm yourself", like you're being told to enjoy something and go crazy over it so much that you overwhelm yourself and knock yourself out....get it? This is actually quite hard to explain! It's like saying "go ahead, have fun".

Answer 4

This survives from when doorways of older houses were lower than today ,it`s a way of saying "after you" in an ironic manner instead of "mind your head".

Answer 5

To knock oneself out= "make a great effort" is from 1936.
I hope it helps.

Answer 6

well usually when the phrase is used, the person (person a) saying it is offering another person (person b) the oppurtunity to do something, which they themselves (person a) are not going to do, so I take it as akin to saying "its your head" or like...an at your own risk kind of thing

....if any of that made sense, lol.

Answer 7

I don't really know how to answer this,it's like saying "break a leg".You don't (hopefully) want someone to do that you say the inverse as in bad as good.

Answer 8

might be from the theatre its bad luck to wish a actor good luck so they say break a leg

Answer 9

Maybe its your subconscious actually wanting someone to knock themselves out! :)

Answer 10

it comes from the ganja smugglers of the past..


"can i have a toke on that?" "knock yerself out" (so you dont ask again)