knacker

/'nækə/

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Word: Knacker

Basic Definition: The word "knacker" is a noun that refers to someone who buys old horses to slaughter them for meat. It can also mean someone who buys old buildings or ships and breaks them apart to recover useful materials.

Usage Instructions:

• "Knacker" is mainly used in British English. It can be considered informal or somewhat colloquial, so it's best to use it in conversations or writing where a casual tone is acceptable.

Examples:

1. In the context of horses:

   • "After the horse was too old to race, the owner decided to sell it to a knacker."

2. In the context of buildings or ships:

   • "The old factory was sold to a knacker who plans to dismantle it for scrap metal."

Advanced Usage:

• When discussing animal welfare, you might hear "knacker" used in debates about humane treatment versus slaughter practices.

Word Variants:

• Knackery (noun): The place where a knacker operates, particularly where horses are brought for slaughter.

Different Meanings:

• In informal British English, "knackered" can mean extremely tired or exhausted, unrelated to the original meaning of the word.
  • Example: "After running the marathon, I was completely knackered."

Synonyms:

• For the horse slaughter context: "slaughterer" or "abattoir worker."
• For dismantling buildings or ships: "demolisher" or "scrapper."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren’t any well-known idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "knacker," but you might encounter phrases like "knackered out" to describe someone being very tired, which is a common informal usage in British English.

Summary:

"Knacker" primarily refers to someone involved in the buying and slaughtering of old horses or the dismantling of old structures for materials.

Academic

Noun

1. someone who buys up old horses for slaughter
2. someone who buys old buildings or ships and breaks them up to recover the materials in them