Meaning & use
crack on
Last updated
Meanings
phrasephrasal verbBritishinformal
to start working or continue working on something in a determined, energetic way
Grammar: No object; often used with with before the task or activity: crack on with the report.
Patterns
- crack on with something
- crack on and do something
We've only got two days left, so let's crack on with the decorating.
She cracked on with her essay while the others watched TV.
If you want to finish by five, you'd better crack on.
phrasephrasal verbBritishinformal
used to tell someone to hurry up or get moving
Grammar: Often used as an imperative to urge someone to move faster or stop delaying.
Patterns
- crack on!
Crack on, or we'll miss the train!
The teacher told the class to crack on and stop chatting.
Common combinations
- crack on with work
- I need to crack on with work before the deadline.
- crack on with the job
- They cracked on with the job and finished early.
- right, let's crack on
- Right, let's crack on — there's a lot to do.
- crack on regardless
- Despite the noise, he cracked on regardless.
Synonyms and how they differ
- get on with
- Very similar in British English, but 'get on with' can also mean to have a good relationship with someone.
- press on
- More formal and often suggests continuing despite difficulty, while 'crack on' is casual and energetic.
- get cracking
- Also informal and means to start working quickly, but it does not usually take 'with'.
Opposites
Commonly confused: crack on or crack down?
crack on vs crack down
To crack down means to take strict action against something, often with on: The police cracked down on speeding.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'crack on' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Crack on' is intransitive and takes 'with' before the activity, so 'crack on with the project' is correct. 'Crack on the project' is wrong because the verb cannot take a direct object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “crack on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.