knack

Meanings

1. 1nounusually singularinformal

   A natural or well-practised ability to do a particular thing easily.

   Grammar: Almost always a knack for or of doing something: she has a knack for languages.

   Patterns

   • have a knack for something
   • have a knack for doing something

   She has a knack for remembering names.

   He has a knack for fixing old radios.

   It takes a while to get the knack of riding a bike.

2. 2nounusually singularinformal

   A clever trick or method of doing something that makes it simpler.

   Grammar: Typically used after get or learn: get the knack of something.

   Patterns

   • get the knack of something
   • learn the knack

   There's a knack to opening this jar.

   Once you learn the knack, folding a fitted sheet is easy.

   The knack lies in pulling the cord gently.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a knack for

My uncle has a knack for telling stories.

get the knack of

I finally got the knack of the new software.

a rare knack

She has a rare knack for putting people at ease.

lose the knack

After ten years away, he feared he had lost the knack.

a knack for languages

His knack for languages helped him in every country.

Synonyms and how they differ

talent

Talent is a bigger word for a major natural gift, whereas knack is a smaller, practical skill.

flair

Flair suggests style and an instinct for doing things in an attractive way.

gift

Gift stresses that the ability is natural and rare, while knack can be learned.

trick

Trick means the clever method itself, whereas knack is the ability to use it.

Opposites

Word family

knacky adjective

rare dialect word meaning clever or skilful

knackered adjective

unrelated British slang meaning very tired

knack for phrase

the most common pattern with this noun

Commonly confused: knack or nack?

Practice

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