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Knee jerk   /ni dʒərk/   Listen
noun
Knee jerk  n.  (Physiol.) A jerk or forward kick of the lower part of the leg produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden contraction of the quadriceps muscle; the patellar reflex.



Knee jerk  n.  Emotional and predictable; of certain people and their reactions to events.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Knee jerk" Quotes from Famous Books



... reflex wink of the eyes in response to anything touching the eyeball, or in response to an object suddenly approaching the eye. This "lid reflex" is quicker than the quickest simple reaction, taking about .05 second. The knee jerk or "patellar reflex", aroused by a blow on the patellar tendon just below the knee when the knee is bent and the lower leg hanging freely, is quicker still, taking about .03 second. The reason for this extreme quickness of the reflex will appear as we proceed. ...
— Psychology - A Study Of Mental Life • Robert S. Woodworth



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