knocked into a cocked hat

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

Knocked out of shape; spoiled; ruined. The allusion or metaphor seems to be that of the hat of some unlucky wight, which, by a violent blow, has been knocked into a sort of flattened, three-cornered shape, resembling an old-fashioned cocked hat.


In consequence of a severe storm of rain and a freshet that followed, some time during the winter of 1842, the mails were behind several days and no news was received. In speaking of the storm, the New York Commercial Advertiser states that they were unable to give any news, for, owing to the storm and freshet, the mails were all knocked into a cocked hat. A London paper, in quoting news from America, observed that a singular occurrence had taken place, which had kept back the usual supply of news from New York, as it appeared that the mails were knocked into a cocked hat--a most extraordinary circumstance, the meaning of which it was wholly out of their power to define.

A tall, slatternly looking woman, wearing a dingy, old silk bonnet, which was knocked into a cocked hat, appeared yesterday before the Recorder.--New Orleans Picayune.

At a Repeal meeting in New York, Mr. Locke was proceeding to speak the influence this party would have, when he was interrupted by a gang of rowdies, who, with the design of disturbing the meeting, cried out, "Three cheers for O'Connell--three cheers for Repeal--and three groans for Slavery." The six cheers for O'Connell and Repeal were given, but by the time they came to the groans for slavery, they found themselves all knocked into a cocked hat.--New York Paper.

Between three and four thousand persons were assembled at the Broadway Tabernacle the other evening to hear a temperance lecture from the talented Mr. Gough. There were "long--robed doctors" enough to have constituted a standing army. The Rev. Dr.--, who opened the meeting with prayer, got through in the very short space of three-quarters of an hour; but it was full long enough to knock the spirit of the meeting into a "cocked hat."--New York Tribune.

Sometimes the dog would get hold of the coon, like he was a going to swallow him whole, and smash him all into a cocked hat.--Maj. Jones's Court.

One of the omnibuses here, run full tilt right against a cart, and knocked everything into a kind of cocked hat.--Maj. Downing, May-day in N. Y.

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

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