I hadn’t thought about this in ages, but for me it’s “knock UP ginger”, and I can’t tell if that’s a true memory based on the first half of my childhood in South Yorkshire, or if it’s something I’ve Mandela Effect-ed in as a result of going to uni in Hull, where “knock up” is the term for knocking on a door
The most common answers in the UK overall are “knock down ginger” (25%) and “knock a door run” (21%) – but as the map shows, it’s highly dependent on where you live
There’s also a generational shift taking place – while the over-70s are most likely to use “knock down ginger” at 41%, this falls with age to just 15% of 18-24 year olds. Younger generations are more likely to use “knock a door run”, and the youngest adults in particular have started using “ding dong ditch”, an American import
In typical America style ****many outdated people**** in the US call this “N word knocking” Embarrassing to say the least.
Edit – seriously down voting? I dont call it that you assholes. Jesus get a grip!
Let’s, uh, not do this one for Americans.
In US (California) it was “Ding-Dong Ditch ‘em”
In the southern US we had a different name for this. Lol. Can’t say it here.
Canada. Only ever heard “Nicky nicky nine door” or “ding dong ditch”
Haha thanks for this, very cool seeing the differences in area. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about knock and run.
Ding dong ditch in Vermont
I’m from the NE but none of the areas have the one I knew:
“Knock, do a runner”
My husband is Cumbrian and he calls it ‘knock and nash’.
Lot of ginger bashing going on
This is really interesting. I’m in east midlands, in a town where lots of Scottish came to work in steel works. I’ve never heard chap door run be called any of those options, we used to always call it chappie.
So it must’ve traveled down with the Scottish.
Ding dong ditch (California and Texas)
Grew up in the southwest, always thought cherry knocking was more universal than it apparently is.
Wait, in Northern Ireland people call it Belfast?! Or has something gone wrong with the data fields there?
ETA — or a terrible pun … ?
Millenial born to South Asian immigrants in a very multicultural part of London: We called it knock-a-dolly (which I just googled and apparently it’s used in Ireland)
In Germany we called it Schellekloppe.
I’m from Co. Antrim and was called ‘Thunder & Lightning’ 99% if the time, other the occasional weirdo calling it ‘Belfast’.
Sadly in Florida in the 80s. It was Ding Dong ditch or Nword Knockin.
What does ginger refer to in this context?
North West England here and I’d only ever heard of “Knock a door run” until it became an internet thing and everyone called it “Knock down ginger”
Ring and run. North East USA
“Sonne Décrisse” in Québec, Canada.
Translates to “Ring and ditch the f*ck out”.
Where I’m from in Australia we always called it “knock and run”.
I had no idea there were so many other names for it!
Boy, oh boy… the Brits are NOT gonna be happy with GenX American Midwesterners!
In Scotland it’s not chap door run, it’s chap door run away or just Chappie
I’m north west and its always been Knock and Run where I live.
I wouldnt mind some “theft and shrubbery” though
Born in England, live in USA, I’ve only heard Ding Dong Ditch and honestly some of these are the laziest sayings I’ve ever heard. I expected better than “knock and run”. Tragic. You might as well call Trick Or Treating “knock and ask for candy”ing. Embarrassing.
> Knock a door run
If the Yorkshiremen had their way, you’d call soccer “get a ball kick”
![[OC] Mapped - what do Britons call the game where you knock on someone's door and run away?](https://www.europesays.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sqe20crc1qie1-1340x1024.png)
29 comments
I hadn’t thought about this in ages, but for me it’s “knock UP ginger”, and I can’t tell if that’s a true memory based on the first half of my childhood in South Yorkshire, or if it’s something I’ve Mandela Effect-ed in as a result of going to uni in Hull, where “knock up” is the term for knocking on a door
The most common answers in the UK overall are “knock down ginger” (25%) and “knock a door run” (21%) – but as the map shows, it’s highly dependent on where you live
There’s also a generational shift taking place – while the over-70s are most likely to use “knock down ginger” at 41%, this falls with age to just 15% of 18-24 year olds. Younger generations are more likely to use “knock a door run”, and the youngest adults in particular have started using “ding dong ditch”, an American import
Full details here: [https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/51544-is-it-knock-down-ginger-or-knock-a-door-run](https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/51544-is-it-knock-down-ginger-or-knock-a-door-run)
Tools – datawrapper and Adobe Illustrator
In typical America style ****many outdated people**** in the US call this “N word knocking” Embarrassing to say the least.
Edit – seriously down voting? I dont call it that you assholes. Jesus get a grip!
Let’s, uh, not do this one for Americans.
In US (California) it was “Ding-Dong Ditch ‘em”
In the southern US we had a different name for this. Lol. Can’t say it here.
Canada. Only ever heard “Nicky nicky nine door” or “ding dong ditch”
Haha thanks for this, very cool seeing the differences in area. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about knock and run.
Ding dong ditch in Vermont
I’m from the NE but none of the areas have the one I knew:
“Knock, do a runner”
My husband is Cumbrian and he calls it ‘knock and nash’.
Lot of ginger bashing going on
This is really interesting. I’m in east midlands, in a town where lots of Scottish came to work in steel works. I’ve never heard chap door run be called any of those options, we used to always call it chappie.
So it must’ve traveled down with the Scottish.
Ding dong ditch (California and Texas)
Grew up in the southwest, always thought cherry knocking was more universal than it apparently is.
Wait, in Northern Ireland people call it Belfast?! Or has something gone wrong with the data fields there?
ETA — or a terrible pun … ?
Millenial born to South Asian immigrants in a very multicultural part of London: We called it knock-a-dolly (which I just googled and apparently it’s used in Ireland)
In Germany we called it Schellekloppe.
I’m from Co. Antrim and was called ‘Thunder & Lightning’ 99% if the time, other the occasional weirdo calling it ‘Belfast’.
Sadly in Florida in the 80s. It was Ding Dong ditch or Nword Knockin.
What does ginger refer to in this context?
North West England here and I’d only ever heard of “Knock a door run” until it became an internet thing and everyone called it “Knock down ginger”
Ring and run. North East USA
“Sonne Décrisse” in Québec, Canada.
Translates to “Ring and ditch the f*ck out”.
Where I’m from in Australia we always called it “knock and run”.
I had no idea there were so many other names for it!
Boy, oh boy… the Brits are NOT gonna be happy with GenX American Midwesterners!
In Scotland it’s not chap door run, it’s chap door run away or just Chappie
I’m north west and its always been Knock and Run where I live.
I wouldnt mind some “theft and shrubbery” though
Born in England, live in USA, I’ve only heard Ding Dong Ditch and honestly some of these are the laziest sayings I’ve ever heard. I expected better than “knock and run”. Tragic. You might as well call Trick Or Treating “knock and ask for candy”ing. Embarrassing.
> Knock a door run
If the Yorkshiremen had their way, you’d call soccer “get a ball kick”
Comments are closed.