WordGarden.ioknacker
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈækə/
US
- /ˈnækər/noun
Meanings
Verb
to make someone feel very tired or exhausted
to wear something out or damage it beyond useful condition
Noun
an insulting term for an unpleasant, contemptible, or foolish person
a person who buys or slaughters worn-out horses or other livestock
Beyond the definition
To "knacker" someone or something means to make them extremely tired or to wear them out so badly that they no longer work well. You will hear it mostly in British English, often as "knackered." A long hike can leave you "knackered," and years of hard work can "knacker" your knees. It can also be used for things: if an old car is "knackered," it is worn out or broken. The word is very informal and has a rough feel.
The word "knacker" has an old, rough history and is now mostly heard in informal British English. In its original sense, a "knacker" was a person whose job was to collect and process dead, unwanted, or worn-out animals, especially horses. From that idea of something being at the end of its useful life, the verb developed the sense of exhausting, wearing out, or ruining someone or something.
Today, the most common form is "knackered." When people say "I'm absolutely knackered," they mean they are extremely tired, either physically or mentally. A hard day at work, a long trip, or a demanding game can all leave someone "knackered." As a verb, "to knacker" means to tire someone out badly: "That marathon really knackered me."
The word is also used for things that are worn out, damaged, or no longer working because of heavy use. "My old car is knackered" suggests that the car is in very bad shape, possibly beyond repair. In the same way, years of strain can "knacker" your back, your shoes, or your phone battery.
There is also a usage warning. While "knackered" is a common casual slang word for "very tired" in the UK and elsewhere, the noun "knacker" can be used as a slur, especially in Ireland, when said about people. Because of that, and because the whole word family sounds rough and informal, it is better kept out of formal or professional situations.
So, whether it describes a person after a long day or a machine after years of use, the word gives the picture of something pushed hard and left worn out.
Examples
- 1
Physical effort
That hill will knacker you if you start too fast.
- Usage
British informal
- 2
Exhaustion
The move completely knackered me, so I went to bed at nine.
- 3
Furniture damage
Don't keep forcing the drawer shut, or you'll knacker the runners.
- 4
Car problem
The clutch is knackered, so the car won't go into gear properly.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Animal disposal
The old mare ended up at the knacker's yard.
- Phraseknacker's yard
a place where old or injured animals are taken to be killed
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- knackernoun
Forms
- knackerspluralnoun