Adjektiv

knapp

Translation

scarce, tight, barely, short

Die Zeit wird knapp.

Time is running short.

Das war ein sehr knapper Sieg.

That was a very narrow victory.

Wir haben den Zug knapp verpasst.

We barely missed the train.

Bitte fass dich knapp.

Please be brief.

((sth.)) is scarce/tight (sth.) is in short supply Money is tight.

just/barely ((before/after ...)) just before/after He arrived just before 8 o'clock.

to barely miss ((sth.)) to miss (sth.) by a hair We barely missed the bus.

to be brief to keep it short Please be brief.

Synonyms: scarce, tight; Antonyms: abundant, plenty

From Middle High German 'knappe' (tight, narrow). Related to English 'nip'.

Think of a 'nap' being a 'short' sleep, or a 'knapsack' packed 'tight'.