knock on the door

knock on the door

1. To present (itself) as a possibility or (usually desirable) opportunity in the near future, especially temporarily. It was hard leaving my parents and all my friends from high school, but when an opportunity to attend school in Europe knocked on the door, I knew I had to seize the chance. What would you do if the chance to make half a million dollars was suddenly knocking on the door?
2. To try to become involved in some group or venture. If that kid is knocking on the door, you better let him join the team—he's really talented.
3. To be close to overtaking a competitor. Philly still sits atop the division, but Boston is knocking on the door with this win streak.
See also: door, knock, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

knock on (or at) the door

seek to join a particular group or sphere of action.
See also: door, knock, on
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • knock at the door
  • knock at your door
  • knock on (one's) door
  • come knocking at (one's) door
  • come knocking on (one's) door
  • knock at (one's) door
  • come knocking on the door
  • come knocking at the door
  • be knocking on the door
  • step outside
References in periodicals archive
The court ruled that the agents did not knock on the door as a contrivance to create the exigency, and that it was proper for the agents to pursue their investigation by seeking voluntary cooperation.
This exigency required the police to immediately knock on the door, announce themselves, and ultimately break down the door).
Creating exigent circumstances
Other courts distinguish cases where the police simply knock on the door and await the suspect's response from those where the police knock on the door and demand the suspect's presence.
Entering premises to arrest; the threshold question