"knock me up in the morning"

Posted by Doris on August 19, 2003

In Reply to: "Knock me up in the morning" posted by Dr. Ward Fredericks on August 19, 2003

: When Americans first visit the UK they are taken aback by a much different language with all sorts of strange meanings. My first visit in the 60's was highlighted by an instruction to "knock me up in the morning"! Luckily, I just kept quiet and found out the meaning later -- i.e. call me or visit me again tomorrow.
: Does anyone know the background for that wonderful expression?

From what I heard when I lived in England - there used to be official "Knocker Uppers". They were people who went round to various addresses knocking on the doors of men who had to get up early for work in the morning. Hence " Pease knock me up at . . ." to be understood as "Please wake me in the morning at . . ."

Don't know how true this is but this is what I was brought up to understand and the expression lives on - I use it myself.

Doris