KNACK • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Knack

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noun

Knack n.

1.

A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack. "A knack, a toy, a trick, a baby's cap."

2.

A readiness in performance; aptness at doing a specific task; skill; aptitude; facility; dexterity; often used with for; as, a knack for playing the guitar. "The fellow... has not the knack with his shears." "The dean was famous in his time, And had a kind of knack at rhyme."

3.

Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device. "The knacks of japers." "For how should equal colors do the knack!"

verb

Knack v. i.

1.

To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink. (Obs. or Prov. Eng.)

2.

To speak affectedly. (Prov. Eng.)

See images of 'Knack'

Etymology of 'Knack'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Knack" Quotes from Famous Books

... truly. He protested that it was a faithfully recorded incident: but though the events were then fresh, he did not produce a single witness to prove that any Malay had been near Grasmere at the time. And so elsewhere. As I have remarked about Borrow, there are some people who have a knack of recounting truth so that it looks as if it never had been true. I have been informed by Mr. James Runciman that he himself once made considerable inquiries on the track of Lavengro, and found that that ...

— Essays in English Literature, 1780-1860 • George Saintsbury

... voice also did not sound quite natural. However, he dismissed the idea at once as mere fancy, and watched proudly the admiring glances bestowed upon her in the Fairbridge station, while they were waiting for the train. Margaret had a peculiar knack in designing costumes which were at once plain and striking. This morning she wore a black China silk, through the thin bodice of which was visible an under silk strewn with gold disks. Her girdle was clasped with a ...

— The Butterfly House • Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

... tore up many sheets, showed bits to admiring friends, and felt themselves budding authoresses. Public opinion, surging round the school, had already fixed the laurel wreath on the head of Hilary. Hilary exhibited decided literary ability; she had quite a clever knack of writing, and had composed several short stories. When she read these aloud—in bed—her thrilled listeners decided that they were worthy ...

— A harum-scarum schoolgirl • Angela Brazil

... that, once quit of the primitive maternal responsibility, she gave no more thought to them than a thrush gives to its fledglings when she has educated them to their first flights, and to the useful knack of cracking ...

— At a Winter's Fire • Bernard Edward J. Capes

... progress from this room in the manner you know. Practise your magic alone, or you will lose the knack. And now good night. Oh yes—Becky Boozer has been crying into her apron all day. Partly for Ned Cilley but I fancy—" Chris heard a chuckle from a well-remembered room—"but I fancy, largely for two boys! Good night, Christopher. ...

— Mr. Wicker's Window • Carley Dawson

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