01
knacken
to crack
To make a short, hard sound that occurs when something breaks, tears, or suddenly moves.
example
Die alten Holzdielen knacken bei jedem Schritt.
The old wooden floorboards crack with every step.
knacken
to crack
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Transitive or intransitive
'Knacken' (to crack) can be used with or without an object, which changes the meaning. Without an object, it means to make a sound ('Das Eis knackt' — The ice cracks). With an accusative object, it means to open or solve something ('eine Nuss knacken' — to crack a nut).
EXAMPLE
Im Winter knackt das Holz im warmen Zimmer.
In winter, the wood cracks in the warm room.
The object determines the meaning
When 'knacken' (to crack) has an object, that object reveals the exact meaning. A 'Nuss' (nut) is literally opened, a 'Code' (code) is deciphered, and a 'Rekord' (record) is surpassed.
EXAMPLE
Hast du den Code für das WLAN geknackt?
Did you crack the Wi-Fi code?
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'knacken' (to crack open) is often combined with things that have a hard shell or a locking mechanism. Typical examples are: 'eine Nuss knacken' (to crack a nut), 'einen Safe knacken' (to crack a safe), 'ein Schloss knacken' (to pick/crack a lock).
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem Nussknacker kann man jede Nuss knacken.
With this nutcracker you can crack any nut.
Metaphor for problems
The idea of opening is often used metaphorically for solving difficult, abstract problems. For example, you can say 'ein Rätsel knacken' (to solve a riddle), 'einen Fall knacken' (to crack a case), or 'ein Passwort knacken' (to crack a password).
EXAMPLE
Die Detektivin hat den schwierigen Fall nach monatelanger Arbeit geknackt.
The detective cracked the difficult case after months of work.
Use with joints
When talking about sounds made by joints, you can say 'Die Knie knacken' (The knees crack) intransitively, or use the phrase 'mit etwas knacken' (to crack something).
EXAMPLE
Beim Aufstehen knacken meine Knie immer.
When I stand up, my knees always crack.
Compare with
knacken vs erreichen
to reach
'erreichen' and 'knacken' can both describe achieving a difficult goal. 'erreichen' is neutral and fits many situations, for example with goals, numbers, or successes. 'knacken' is colloquial and sounds more lively. It is often used when a limit, a record, a code, or a difficult problem is overcome. Learners may confuse the words because 'eine Marke knacken' (to break a mark) is similar to 'eine Marke erreichen' (to reach a mark). The difference: 'erreichen' is general and can also be more formal; 'knacken' emphasizes overcoming a limit or difficulty.
knacken
Eva will beim Laufen endlich die Marke von zehn Kilometern knacken.
Eva finally wants to break the ten-kilometer mark when running.
erreichen
Das Team hat sein Umsatzziel schon im November erreicht.
The team had already achieved its sales target by November.
In real life
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