---
title: knacker — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «knacker» in the school dictionary: To knacker something is to break it or wear it out; to knacker someone is to make them very tired. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knacker/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [K](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/) / knacker

# knacker

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** someone, knacker, job, yard, slang, I · **What happens:** knacker, be, wear out, buy, turn, do · **To what, where:** something, it, person, old horses, horses, meat

<!-- .vabout -->
«knacker» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [knacker in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/knacker.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: slang, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To knacker something is to break it or wear it out; to knacker someone is to make them very tired.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:m1:1
# text = To knacker something is to break it or wear it out; to knacker someone is to make them very tired.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	knacker	knacker	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	break	break	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wear	wear	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	out	out	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	knacker	knacker	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
15	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	18	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	ccomp	_	_
19	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	very	very	ADV	RB	_	21	advmod	_	_
21	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knacker** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | break *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **wear out** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 4 | **knacker** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | present | someone |  |  |  |  | make, tired *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun, old-fashioned, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A knacker is a person whose job is buying old or dead horses and turning them into meat, glue or other products; a knacker's yard is the place where this is done.

<!-- fold The tree, 33 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:m2:1
# text = A knacker is a person whose job is buying old or dead horses and turning them into meat, glue or other products; a knacker's yard is the place where this is done.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knacker	knacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	buying	buy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	_
13	horses	horse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	turning	turn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	conj	_	_
16	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	into	into	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
20	glue	glue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
21	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
22	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	products	product	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	31	punct	_	_
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	knacker	knacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	's	's	PART	POS	_	26	case	_	_
28	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	nsubj	_	_
29	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	31	cop	_	_
30	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	31	det	_	_
31	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
32	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	35	advmod	_	_
33	this	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	35	nsubj:pass	_	_
34	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	aux:pass	_	_
35	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	31	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a knacker | a person and the place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **buy** | present · progressive | job | old horses |  |  |  |  | vn accept-77.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent horse=Theme |
| 3 | **turn** | gerund | job *not said here* | horses *= horse* |  | meat and glue or other products |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent they=Theme into meat=Trajectory |
| 4 | **is a** | present | a knacker's yard | the place |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **do** | present · passive |  | this |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude, Ireland — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A knacker is an insulting word for a rough or badly behaved person; it is offensive, especially to Irish Travellers.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:m3:1
# text = A knacker is an insulting word for a rough or badly behaved person; it is offensive, especially to Irish Travellers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knacker	knacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	insulting	insulting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
9	rough	rough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	12	advmod	_	_
12	behaved	behave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	conj	_	_
13	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	17	punct	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
16	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
17	offensive	offensive	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
20	to	to	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	Irish	Irish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	Travellers	traveller	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a knacker | a insulting word |  |  |  | for a rough person | tree rules |
| 2 | **behave** | participle | a knacker *not said here* |  |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | knacker |  |  |  |  | offensive *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: rude, UK, plural «knackers» — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A slang word for testicles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:m4:1
# text = A slang word for testicles.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	testicles	testicle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) Don't knacker yourself on the first lap.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x1:1
# text = (slang) Don't knacker yourself on the first lap.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
4	Do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	knacker	knacker	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	amod	_	_
11	lap	lap	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **knacker** | present · do-support | slang *not said here* | yourself |  | the first lap |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) I've knackered my knee playing football.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x2:1
# text = (slang) I've knackered my knee playing football.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	've	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	knackered	knacker	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
10	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knacker** | present · perfect | I | my knee |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **play** | gerund | I *not said here* | football |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent football=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That long walk knackered me out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x3:1
# text = That long walk knackered me out.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	knackered	knacker	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knacker out** | past | that long walk | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old horse was sent to the knacker's yard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x4:1
# text = The old horse was sent to the knacker's yard.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	sent	send	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	knacker	knacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past · passive |  | the old horse |  |  |  | to the knacker's yard | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme to yard=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(humorous) This old car is ready for the knacker's yard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x5:1
# text = (humorous) This old car is ready for the knacker's yard.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	humorous	humorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	This	this	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	ready	ready	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	knacker	knacker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	yard	yard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **car** |  | This |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | humorous old car |  |  |  |  | for the knacker's yard; ready *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(slang) He knackered the printer by jamming paper in it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:knacker:x6:1
# text = (slang) He knackered the printer by jamming paper in it.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	knackered	knacker	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	printer	printer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	jamming	jam	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	_
10	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **knacker** | past | slang | the printer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **jam** | gerund | slang *not said here* | paper |  | paper |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent paper=Theme in it=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [knack](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knack/)
- next →: [knackered](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/knackered/)
- ↑ back to [K in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/)