Father knocked over china in shock (5)
I believe the answer is:
appal
'shock' is the definition.
(I know this)
'father knocked over china' is the wordplay.
'father' becomes 'pa' (pa can mean dad or father).
'knocked over' says the letters should be written backwards.
'china' becomes 'pal' (china plate is Cockney rhyming slang for mate).
'pa' back-to-front is 'ap'.
'ap'+'pal'='APPAL'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for appal that I've seen before include "Dismay, horrify" , "Scandalise" , "Put at rest (suspicion)" , "To shock, dismay" , "Greatly horrify" .)