crack on en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(informal, intransitive) To continue (at a task) briskly or promptly.
What's the use of cracking-on for nothing? Would you slip it now if you got the chance?
1888, Kipling, The Madness of Private Ortheris:"We strongly urge the Government to crack on with projects for electrifying lines throughout the UK or identify alternative lower-carbon motive power solutions."
2023 March 22, “Select Committee wants electrification at the heart of low-carbon initiative”, in RAIL, number 979, page 8:Landlady: You're not stoppin' for a brew? Gene Hunt: No thanks, love. Better crack on.
2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3:Naked Twister will have to wait. I've got to crack on with my essay.
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(informal, intransitive) To continue apace.
We crack on eastbound, passing the station at Worksop and that at Retford Low Level (I'm following the route with great interest thanks to my Quail atlas).
2022 December 14, Pip Dunn, “Caroline is ready for inspection...”, in RAIL, number 972, page 51:The project is really cracking on.
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(dated, transitive) To put on.
to crack on more sail, or more steam
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(slang, transitive) To crack down on or arrest (someone).
They need to crack on those drug dealers.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cracks on | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| cracked on | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| cracked on | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| cracking on | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (5)
es darse priesa (continue doing something, especially with more effort than before) · de sich ranhalten (continue doing something, especially with more effort than before) · es ponerse las pilas (continue doing something, especially with more effort than before) · de sich sputen (continue doing something, especially with more effort than before) · de hinmachen (continue doing something, especially with more effort than before)