Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Easily predictable; automatic.
- adjective Reacting spontaneously in the expected manner.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A sudden jerking of the knee, caused by a contraction of the quadriceps femoris, evoked by a blow on the patellar tendon or in any way that gives the quadriceps a sudden tug. Also called
patellar tendon reflex and knee-kick.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Automatic ,spontaneous , easilypredictable - noun A sudden
reflexive movement of the leg below the knee, as a reaction to atap to thetendon just below thepatella (kneecap ).
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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He also accused Cameron of promoting what he called "knee-jerk gimmicks" to address the problems.
British PM Pledges to Reverse 'Moral Collapse' After Riots 2011
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He also accused Cameron of promoting what he called "knee-jerk gimmicks" to address the problems.
British PM Pledges to Reverse 'Moral Collapse' After Riots 2011
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What we all know is those who live on knee-jerk reaction will either absolutely love or hate her.
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Another who said she was a "knee-jerk, bleeding heart liberal."
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If Obama made a comment that the sun rises in the East, the Rethugs would knee-jerk counter it by saying that it's another "librul lie" and try to claim that the sun rises in the west ..... regardless of how insipid they appeared.
McConnell: There's a bailout fund in current Wall St. reform bill 2010
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I wish I knew a way that was fair, and not a knee-jerk reaction against the bean counters from their companies who figured out how to cut those jobs and save money! keith in Austin
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They hate our society so much that their knee-jerk reaction is to condemn in the most vile terms anything that may protect our country.
Natl. Poll: More favor than oppose Arizona immigration law 2010
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The knee-jerk reaction as expected from a right-wing extremist like Inhofe to focus on a non-issue like gays in the military.
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And for any of you whining pantwetting conservatives out there who spout your knee-jerk "liberal media conspiracy" nonsense all the time, keep this in mind ... or try ... in whatever passes as a mind for you people.
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This is the kiss of death for any voter who wants to avoid another Repugnican knee-jerk neo-con.
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