Meaning of knacker's yard | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The area of a slaughterhouse where carcasses unfit for human consumption or other purposes are rendered down to produce useful materials such as glue.
2. A (notional) place to send a person or object that is spent beyond all reasonable use.
   colloquial, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“CXXV. The Commissioners may license⟳ such slaughter-house and knacker's yards^([sic]) as they from time to time think⟳ proper for slaughtering cattle within the limits of the special Act. CXXVI. No place⟳ shall be used or occupied as a slaughter-house or knacker's yard within the said limits which was not in such use⟳ and occupation at the time of the passing of the special Act, [...]”

“It was a horrible smell⟳ of corrupt flesh and mouldy bones, mingling with the sickly steam of from cauldrons in which the anatomized animals were seething down. None save⟳ those who have⟳ been so unfortunate as to venture upon the confines of a knacker's yard, can possibly conceive the horrible nausea produced by these blended effluvia: it was enough to make⟳ the strongest stomach heave and become⟳ sick.”

“[T]he market [Smithfield Market] is surrounded by slaughter-houses and knackers' yards, tallow-melting, bone-boiling, tripe-washing, and other offensive trades; [...]”

“The information given when the first animal was presented for slaughter was that lead⟳ paint⟳ had been consumed and that three other animals of the same herd had died and had been sent to a knackers yard.^([sic])”

“In the 1820s, it was estimated that 400 horses a week were slaughtered via licensed horse-butchers (more commonly known as knackers' yards); by mid-century the number⟳ had risen to 1,000 horses weekly, and knackers' yards dotted the poorer districts – [...]”

“I’ve never met someone so incompetent. He’s only fit for the knacker’s yard.”

“No-one would argue⟳ that the system is perfect. But as it nears pensionable age, only deranged free marketeers want⟳ to see⟳ it packed off to the knacker's yard.”

“By then, of course, we and the book are in a sorry state, / scuffed and grubby and having been used / often for purposes not strictly intended, / from doorstop to lavatory-paper, / and ended up in a knacker's yard. / I'm in the knacker's yard. Have⟳ been for a while … / and, really, there are worse places to be.”

CEFR level