knack

Everyday

1. A special skill or clever way of doing something, often one that is hard to explain. tree →
2. A habit or tendency to do something, often by accident, like «a knack for getting into trouble». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and stories it describes a natural talent (a knack for drawing, a knack for making friends). In school, teachers say «you'll get the knack of it» when learning long division or skipping rope. Phrases: have a knack for, get the knack of, there's a knack to it.

Examples

• She has a knack for solving puzzles. tree →
• Opening this jar is easy once you get the knack. tree →
• There's a knack to riding a unicycle. tree →
• My dog has a knack for finding mud. tree →
• Tom has a knack for making people laugh. tree →
• I finally got the knack of long division. tree →
• Grandma has a knack with plants; everything she grows is huge. tree →
• "My dear friend," said the Lion, "how did you get the knack of it so well?" The Fox replied, "Me? tree →

Note

Countable, but nearly always «a knack» or «the knack». The «k» at the start is silent: say NAK. Followed by «for» + noun/-ing, or «of» + -ing in «get the knack of».