knock some sense into

knock (some) sense into (one)

To assist or persuade someone to start thinking sensibly (about something). Jason is convinced that he wants to get a tattoo once he turns 18, but I'm hoping we'll be able to knock sense into him by then. If you think you're going to find success with your high school rock band, then someone needs to knock some sense into you.
See also: knock, sense
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

knock some sense into someone

 and knock some sense in
to strike one, making one smarter, or at least obedient. I think his father finally knocked some sense into him. The accident finally knocked in some sense. I thought that last week's experience would knock some sense in.
See also: knock, sense
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

knock/talk some ˈsense into somebody

(informal) try to persuade somebody to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods: I wish somebody would knock some sense into our politicians. Try and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision.
See also: knock, sense, somebody, talk
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

knock some sense into

Slang
To beat or hit (someone) in an effort to teach a lesson or cause a person to adopt an acceptable pattern of behavior.
See also: knock, sense
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • knock (some) sense in
  • knock (some) sense into (one)
  • knock/talk some sense into somebody
  • talk some sense into (someone's) head
  • talk some sense into (one)
  • hold (someone or something) in low regard
  • give your head a shake
  • have (someone) going
  • have going
  • stewed, screwed, and tattooed
References in periodicals archive
The Grumpies are back to knock some sense into the nation.
48 hours LIVERPOOL HOT LIST YOUR NEXT
The experienced and worldly-wise Welshman will have to knock some sense into the young man's head and get him back into the groove of doing what he does best, which is playing football.
Our clubs pick up quality as window shuts
The Return of the Grumpy Old Women: Fifty Shades of Beige, Gala Theatre, Durham, June 6, 0191 330 4041 or www.galatheatre.co.uk The Grumpies are back and promising to knock some sense into the ising to knock some sense into the nation.
10 THINGS... not to miss
But perhaps a visit from Cain can knock some sense into Charity.
Today's TV
And several women objected to the phrase "knock some sense into,'' saying it advocates violence against women.
Lack of sex draws responses
But if you're close enough to get him over the initial outrage, and actually knock some sense into him, then by all means do so.
Warn him of the consequences of his sexting
But sometimes the appeal goes too far and science becomes--not a lamp to illuminate a controversial issue--but a cudgel with which to beat opponents into submission, or to knock some sense into them.
Trust us, we're experts
EMBARKING on their Fifty Shades of Beige tour, the female Grumpies are back to have a good old moan and knock some sense into the nation.
PICK OF THE COMEDY
New York, October 19 ( ANI ): Author Maneesh Sethi started paying a woman 8 dollars an hour to knock some sense into him after realizing that he wastes 30 hours a week on Facebook and other sites, it has been revealed.
Blogger Maneesh Sethi hires woman to 'slap me if I get off task'
And if the league continues to skate its way around this issue, perhaps the long reach of the law in the NFL case can knock some sense into the NHL.
Brain injuries: a shot across the NHL's bow
Any hopes that the riots might knock some sense into anti-gun British politicians were quickly dashed.
English Gun Control: futile and dangerous: utopia or anarchy? The antigunners' end game is on display for all to see in the United Kingdom
"Hopefully this will knock some sense into him and realise there is more to life.
Tributes pour in for ace Wheldon
But isn't it time the Westminster hothouse of paranoid politicians, press and TV moguls experienced a some good old North East wind to knock some sense into them all.
VENT YOUR SPLEEN
It's a running joke--me persistently trying to provide a story to go with his pictures, striving to "get" them, while he's working overtime to knock some sense into my novice, story-seeking head.
"In Praise of Not Getting"
It was here he fell in love with drama, but when he announced his ambition to his father, Richard put him to work on a building site to knock some sense into him.
Joe's in demand; Roz Laws discovers that being deaf and dyslexic hasn't stopped Joseph Mawle from being a very versatile actor