knee-jerk

English

Alternative forms

• kneejerk
• knee jerk

Etymology

knee +‎ jerk, First attested 1876, obviously derived from a figurative sense of the patellar reflex.

Adjective

knee-jerk (comparative more knee-jerk, superlative most knee-jerk)

1. Automatic, spontaneous, easily predictable

   He gave a knee-jerk response.

Translations

reacting spontaneously in the expected manner

• Icelandic: ósjálfráður (is) m
• Dutch: voorspelbaar (nl)
• French: prévisible (fr)

• Norwegian: forventet or forutsigelig or forutsigbar spontanreaksjon (no) m

Noun

knee-jerk (plural knee-jerks)

1. A sudden reflexive movement of the leg below the knee, as a reaction to a tap to the tendon just below the patella (kneecap).

Synonyms

• kneejerk reflex
• patellar reflex

Translations

a reflex extension of the lower leg

• Icelandic: hnéviðbragð (is) n, hnékippur (is) m

• Norwegian: knerefleks (no) m, patellarefleks (no) m