crackajack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (archaic/informal)Informal, slightly archaic, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “crackajack” mean?
An excellent or first-rate person or thing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An excellent or first-rate person or thing; something of outstanding quality.
Often used as an informal, slightly old-fashioned term of high praise. Can also refer to an expert or someone highly skilled in a particular area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is historically American in origin but saw some limited British usage, especially in the early 20th century. It is now equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests a bygone era (early 1900s). In American English, it may have a stronger association with vaudeville or early baseball slang.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE. Mostly encountered in historical texts, period dramas, or deliberate archaisms.
Grammar
How to Use “crackajack” in a Sentence
[be] a crackajack[be] a crackajack at [noun/gerund][be] crackajack [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crackajack” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's a crackajack mechanic, he can fix anything.
- She gave a crackajack performance in the school play.
American English
- That was a crackajack idea, it solved our problem instantly.
- We need a crackajack programmer for this complex task.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously: 'He's a crackajack at closing deals.'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Rare, potentially used for ironic or affectionate emphasis: 'This old radio is a real crackajack.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crackajack”
- Misspelling as 'crackerjack' (which is the more common variant).
- Using in formal contexts.
- Overusing due to its archaic nature.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'crackajack' is a less common variant of 'crackerjack'. They are synonymous, with 'crackerjack' being the dominant modern spelling.
Its peak usage was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is now considered archaic or nostalgically informal.
No, standard usage is as a noun ('He's a crackajack') or an adjective ('a crackajack mechanic'). Using it as a verb is non-standard.
Yes, the snack 'Cracker Jack' (introduced 1896) took its name from the slang term, meaning 'something excellent'.
An excellent or first-rate person or thing.
Crackajack is usually informal, slightly archaic, colloquial in register.
Crackajack: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkræk.ə.dʒæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkræk.ə.dʒæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] a crackajack at something”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CRACKerjack sailor (Jack) who is excellent at his job. 'Crack' suggests top-class, and 'Jack' is a common name.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS A HIGH-QUALITY TOOL/PERSON (crack = superior, a jack = a man/tool).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'crackajack' be LEAST appropriate?