What did you mean by knocking back on something?
I’m reading Lawrence Block’s memoir, in which he mentions about volunteer travel opportunities offered by Earthwatch. For a not-too-steep fee, one might join an expedition in aid of some environmental goal, such as to save endangered red pandas. Lynne and I
were not sufficiently high-minded to sign up for one of their trips, but now Lynne is right by the time. I’d be eager to inoculate villagers in the Cameroun against dengue fever instead of, say, knocking back an emergency cruise of the South Pacific. Isn’t just spreading the message?
What does “knocking back on a cruise” mean? I attempted to look up the dictionary for “knock back or knock back on”. Their definitions don’t seem to fit this context.
To drink an alcoholic beverage fast or often.
(Wiktionary)
It’s usually transitive, as in “knock back a few drinks” therefore I’m a little surprised by the phrasing here. Still, I think the author is trying to describe a luxury activity they’d be more willing to do: knocking back a few drinks on a cruise ship.
In North American English I mean how to relax and enjoy summer. I
would use this dictionary for a week or two.
Does Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary make sense? What is the metaphor for relaxing on a cruise ship?
Is he a good writer?
