crack up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal
Quick answer
What does “crack up” mean?
To laugh uncontrollably, or to cause someone to laugh uncontrollably.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To laugh uncontrollably, or to cause someone to laugh uncontrollably.
To suffer a physical or mental breakdown; to stop functioning effectively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are present in both dialects, but the 'laugh' meaning may be slightly more common in UK informal speech. The phrase 'to crack up' (meaning to go insane) is equally understood.
Connotations
In both, the 'laugh' meaning is light-hearted and colloquial. The 'breakdown' meaning carries a sympathetic or serious tone.
Frequency
Highly frequent in informal spoken contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “crack up” in a Sentence
Subject + crack up (intransitive)Subject + crack up + Object (transitive)Subject + crack up + under + pressure/comparisonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crack up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We all cracked up when he slipped on the banana skin.
- She's going to crack up if she doesn't take a holiday.
American English
- That comedian cracks me up every time.
- He cracked up under the strain of the final exams.
adjective
British English
- He was in a cracked-up state after the ordeal. (rare, informal)
American English
- The cracked-up old car finally died. (different meaning: damaged)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in informal settings: 'The team cracked up when they saw the old presentation.'
Academic
Very rare. The 'breakdown' meaning might appear in psychology texts.
Everyday
Very common in informal conversation and comedy.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crack up”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crack up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crack up”
- Using 'crack up' formally. Using it as a noun (wrong: 'He had a crack up'; better: 'He cracked up'). Confusing with the idiom 'crack up' meaning 'to praise highly' (e.g., 'It's not all it's cracked up to be').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost exclusively informal and colloquial. Avoid using it in formal writing or speeches.
Yes. In the 'laugh' meaning, you can 'crack someone up' (make them laugh). E.g., 'You crack me up.'
They are often synonymous for mental collapse. 'Crack up' is more informal and vivid. 'Break down' can be used in more formal contexts and for machines.
The hyphenated form 'crack-up' is a noun (informal), e.g., 'He had a crack-up.' The verb is always two separate words: 'to crack up'.
To laugh uncontrollably, or to cause someone to laugh uncontrollably.
Crack up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkræk ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkræk ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"You crack me up!"”
- “"He's cracking up."”
- “"Don't crack up on me now!"”
- “"It's not all it's cracked up to be." (different idiom)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a hard shell (composure) CRACKing UP into pieces when you laugh too hard or break down.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTEGRITY IS STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS / LOSS OF CONTROL IS STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'crack up' mean in this sentence: 'I think he's starting to crack up under the workload.'?