Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
crack a crust en · VERB
Meanings
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(UK, idiomatic, obsolete, slang) To make a living.
Yet for all this I do not hear one giving him a good name, though there are many cracking a crust on his account.
1880, Arthur Hamilton, The Confessions of a Scribbler, page 80:BIANCA: Well, it's a cooshy enough way to crack a crust...
1997, Eric Lane, Nina Shengold, Plays for Actresses, page 585:"Cracking a tidy crust, thank you, mate," Abe said sheepishly.
1947, Robert Briffault, New Life of Mr. Martin, page 270:
Forms
Synonyms
rub along