knacks

IPA/ˈnɪk.næk/
KK[nˈæks]IPA/ˈnɪk.næk/

knacks — noun

  • knackssingular
  • knacksesplural

1. a natural ability to do something well, especially something that other people f

1.名詞B2
釋義

a natural ability to do something well, especially something that other people find difficult or need practice to learn — for example, a knack for remembering faces, or a knack for making nervous people feel comfortable.

例句

Léa has a real knack for fixing old bicycles without any special tools.

pattern: have a knack for + [activity]

Maeve has a knack for calming nervous patients before they go into surgery.

pattern: have a knack for + [activity]

同義詞
  • talent

    a natural ability that can be developed through practice; stronger and more formal than knack

  • gift

    a natural ability that seems to come from birth; suggests something special or rare

  • flair

    a natural ability to do something in a stylish or impressive way

反義詞
  • inability

    lack of the skill or means to do something

用法筆記

Almost always used in the singular (a knack for something). The plural knacks is possible but uncommon — it implies several distinct abilities, as in example 6.

常見錯誤

❌She has the knack to cook well.
✅She has a knack for cooking well.
💡Use for + noun/gerund, not to + infinitive.
❌He has a knack of making friends.
✅He has a knack for making friends.
💡The correct preposition is for, not of.

2. small attractive objects that people put on shelves or tables in their home as d

2.名詞B2
釋義

small attractive objects that people put on shelves or tables in their home as decoration; often inexpensive things collected from trips or given as gifts.

例句

Nila's grandmother keeps glass knacks on every shelf in her living room.

collocation: keeps knacks on shelves

A box in the attic held wooden knacks Tuan had carved as a child.

同義詞
  • ornament

    more general term for any decorative object, not necessarily small or inexpensive

  • trinket

    a small inexpensive decorative item, often worn as jewellery or kept as a souvenir

  • bauble

    a showy but cheap decoration; slightly more literary than knacks

用法筆記

Often spelled knick-knacks. The singular form knack for a decorative object is very rare; the plural knacks is the usual form for this sense.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a pretty knack at the store.
✅I bought a pretty little ornament at the store.' or 'I bought some pretty knacks at the store.
💡The singular knack for a decorative object sounds unnatural; use knacks in the plural or a different word like ornament or trinket.