What does the idiom knee jerk reaction mean?

(Entry 1 of 2) : readily predictable : automatic knee-jerk reactions also, disapproving : reacting in a readily predictable way The man was such a bleeding-heart knee-jerk liberal that you could predict the rest of the column after reading the first sentence. —

Which term is synonymous with a knee jerk reaction?

patellar reflex
Around 1876, the sudden involuntary extension of the leg in response to a light blow just below the knee, which is also known as the patellar reflex, was given the refreshingly simple designation knee jerk.

Where did the saying knee jerk reaction come from?

The expression ‘knee jerk reaction’ comes from medicine, where the jerking motion the knee makes when tapped is called the patellar reflex. First seen in print in 1877, it became common in the early 20th century.

How do I stop knee jerk reaction?

5 tools to prevent knee-jerk reactions

1. Tool #1: Understand your triggers.
2. Tool #2: Don’t make quick people judgements.
3. Tool #3: Understand what emotion is being triggered.
4. Tool #4: Don’t repress emotions, or submit to them.
5. Tool #5: Make strategic choices on how to act (not react)
6. Closing thoughts.

Why does my knee jerk?

The involuntary contraction of muscles that occur when your knee twitches, are usually caused by the muscles in your thigh, rather than the knee itself. The occasional twitch of your knee (or any body part) is normal.

Does the knee jerk reflex involve the brain?

Doctors will test reflexes by tapping the tendon just below the knee, and this causes the leg to kick out. This knee-jerk reflex is an example of a simple monosynaptic reflex. This quick response is called a reflex, and reflexes occur without conscious thinking or planning, meaning the brain is not involved in them.

What does it mean if you have no knee jerk reflex?

The normal response is a ‘knee jerk’. This is an example of a reflex, which is an involuntary muscular response elicited by the rubber hammer tapping the associated tendon. When reflex responses are absent this could be a clue that the spinal cord, nerve root, peripheral nerve, or muscle has been damaged.

What is the opposite of knee jerk?

▲ Opposite of done or occurring spontaneously, without conscious thought or attention. conscious. nonmechanical. careful.

What tends to be your knee jerk reaction when you make a mistake?

In its figurative sense, a knee-jerk reaction refers to an emotional response that one does not think about before reacting. For example, if someone says something rude about you in public, your knee-jerk reaction might be to call that person a nasty name.

What nerve is responsible for knee jerk?

Although the knee jerk reflex is mediated by the L3 and L4 nerve roots, evidence exists that altered knee jerk expression may occur with exclusively L5 radiculopathy.

What is the doctor testing when he hits your knee?

The most familiar reflex is the knee jerk, when a doctor taps on the tendon below your knee with a reflex hammer and that leg kicks out. The stimulus (the hammer) results in a signal being sent via a sensory nerve to the spinal cord.

What happens if your knee doesn’t jerk?

What does it mean when someone calls you a knee jerk reaction?

For example, if someone says something rude about you in public, your knee-jerk reaction might be to call that person a nasty name. In most cases, a knee-jerk reaction is not considered a good thing. Since it is an automatic response, little thought is ever given to knee-jerk reactions.

What’s the knee jerk reaction to a woman becoming single?

— Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2019 The fact that our knee jerk reaction to a woman becoming single is one of exhilarated empowerment rather than pity or dismay shows that minds have been changed, even slightly. — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, 13 July 2018

Is there a knee jerk spike in oil prices?

Analysts anticipate a knee jerk spike in crude oil prices when the market opens Monday. — Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY, “Will the drone strikes in Saudi Arabia impact gas prices?

What was the knee jerk reaction of India to China?

The Narendra Modi government’s knee jerk decision to curtail ties with China overnight could cost India heavily. — Niharika Sharma, Quartz India, 2 July 2020 The knee jerk reaction to provide ventilators for Africa is understandable.