(v. i.) To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink.
(v. i.) To speak affectedly.
(n.) A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack.
(n.) A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity.
(n.) Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device.
Example Sentences:
(1) His office - with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall offering views over a Bradford suburb and distant moors - is devoid of knick-knacks or memorabilia.
(2) For one day only, the criteria for success shift from the ability to do long division to the ability to do the long jump, a knack for reciting facts to a knack for running fast.
(3) Garfield has a history of making interesting choices and a knack for using his edgy watchfulness to steal scenes from some of the best actors in the business.
(4) Doyle may be knacked too … 12.47pm GMT 30 min: Leeds are bossing this and playing some wonderful football.
(5) He has a knack for always knowing the right thing to say to them.
(6) Abbott appeared to have the same knack until he got into government, after which time his lack of ideas and direction have seen his party – and especially his cabinet – crumble.
(7) Bayern, even with 10 men, had an unerring knack of keeping the ball.
(8) Knack There were hidden areas he could smash open, collecting components that could be made into helpful items – such as one that harvests energy from enemies that could be used for special attacks.
(9) It was not the worst performance of Chelsea’s season by any measure and they gave everything during their late search for an equaliser, but they have lost their knack of recovering from going behind and Marko Arnautovic’s goal, eight minutes into the second half, was decisive.
(10) Young-gamer-friendly The Knack is a simple but imaginative action-adventure, while InFamous: Second Son , a third-person superpowers-themed title, really looked a step ahead of the current platforms, presenting a glorious and inventive spectacle.
(11) And on those occasions when the chefs can’t cook up a compromise, the EU has a knack for defusing a crisis by “kicking the can down the road” or some other variant of delaying a day of reckoning or fudging a fundamental problem.
(12) Sturridge, nonetheless, has a wonderful knack of not becoming dispirited.
(13) Louis van Gaal’s knack for escapism has been a pronounced feature of the season but on a wild night in east London, when West Ham United yelled farewell to their home of 112 years, the Manchester United manager could not summon the trick when he needed it so sorely.
(14) Updated at 4.45pm BST 3.44pm BST 3.37pm BST Meet the team Left to right: Gary (the driver), Benji (knee-knacked blogger), Hollis (the photographer) 3.24pm BST 3.10pm BST Chicago playlist While we're waiting for Benji and the team to get their first coffee rush going, let's spin a few tunes courtesy of our resident DJ @jaimeblack at Dynasty Podcasts .
(15) I suppose that in my highly anxious 20s I developed a knack for viewing my future with the lowest possible expectations of happiness.
(16) Long known for its knack for borrowing from the catwalk and repurposing for the high street in a more wearable way, Zara’s success also relies on trial and error.
(17) The arrogant have a knack of papering over chasms in their arguments.
(18) The knack is to find your own inspiration, and take it on a journey to create work that is personal and revealing.
(19) And that is true, but as far the popular perception of the world is concerned, Argentina is celebrated only on account of its knack of producing, generation after generation, great footballers and teams.
(20) Tom Watson is a formidable political operator with an uncanny knack for being at the centre of Labour party dramas.
Nous
Definition:
(n.) Intellect; understanding; talent; -- used humorously.
Example Sentences:
(1) He offered up a further example of his lack of economic nous: his failure to notice that the Sun had not paid him for his column for 18 months.
(2) Up the hill, the prince was trying out his schoolboy French – " C'est un honneur pour nous d'être parmi vous … merci votre patience avec mon accent " – and was cheered for doing so.
(3) Steven Gerrard has neither the discipline or the tactical nous to play as a defensive midfielder, they said; and yet here he is having one of the best seasons of his career, inspiring all around him.
(4) They were able to present him with a thriving youth system, a new state-of-the-art training ground, boardroom nous, a strong recruitment team and the basis of a good squad.
(5) Nous sommes tous Français (We are all French).” By contrast, Hollande said that Trump’s excesses “make you want to retch” .
(6) Housing associations’ commercial nous and social entrepreneurship has delivered billions of pounds worth of housing.
(7) The favoured chant of the day is " On est chez nous! "
(8) We’ve got to look to kick on next season.” One definite arrival is the Belgian forward Divock Origi but, aged 20 and having competed in only two full seasons for Lille, he is another who cannot be asked to add nous immediately.
(9) It seemed only a matter of time before the close control and deft passing of the Spain forward set up a colleague with a scoring opportunity, yet in the absence of Agüero and Edin Dzeko City seemed to lack anyone with the nous to find the space Silva was looking to exploit.
(10) She revels in her naivete, as though by admitting her lack of City nous she is proving she is on the side of the people in the great battle between the pinstripes and the proles.
(11) By contrast, Rosneft is seen as bureaucratic, inefficient and lacking commercial nous.
(12) Growing up in Pretoria, the son of a Canadian mother and South African father, he taught himself coding and software, mixing geek talent with business nous: he designed and sold a video game, Blastar, by the age of 12.
(13) He was widely regarded as having the right experience, deft touch and nous to navigate the shoals and shifting currents of continental politics that would buffet the British ship of state as it left its European berth.
(14) The film kind of dupes us into finding Elle every bit as silly and superficial as her peers do, before revealing her whip-smart legal nous and steely sense of integrity (feminist).
(15) The Villa manager, who admitted Liverpool had "too much nous and experience for us", felt his side were "sloppy" in the second half, when Guzan made flying saves to repel efforts from Glen Johnson and Jonjo Shelvey and Suárez hit the woodwork twice.
(16) She has smart commercial nous but has also overseen Sky improve its public service credentials.
(17) Mr Allardyce reportedly impressed the FA with his sophisticated take on sport psychology and has a tactical nous sure to surprise, especially following Roy Hodgson.
(18) Zuma has regained it but now he will need the tactical nous to deal with the fallout," he said.
(19) Sayida Ounissi (@SaidaOunissi) Nous n'avons pas peur.
(20) Jenna Lyon at the J.Crew headquarters in New York Photograph: Danielle Levitt J Crew's USP is fashion nous mixed with accessibility – a relatively basic flowered T-shirt with high-waisted denim shorts, or a single-breasted navy blue blazer worn cape-style.