Can the expressions to have a knack for doing something and to have the knack of doing something convey the same meaning? I think the first always refers to talent and the second to annoying habits. Am I right?
I think your impression about 'a
[noun] for...' is right - hence phrases such as
a gift for/
a talent for/
an instinct for/
a penchant for/
a liking for/
an aptitude for/
a craving for.... etc.
But the collocation 'a knack for' isn't - in my experience - a strong one;
I don't use it, and I suspect (without having done the necessary research ;-)) the usage originated from the phrase 'the knack of' combined with the influence of all those 'a
[noun] for' expressions ( which
do have the sort of instinctive and/or latent connotations you have noticed).
In short, I see it as a new kid on the block that I don't like very much ;-) . (My dislike, though, is not as violent as for some other 'noun + new preposition' collocations such as 'the secret
to'
[shudder], coming soon to a shampoo advertisement near you).
b
