crock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal
Quick answer
What does “crock” mean?
An old or worn-out vehicle, especially a car.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An old or worn-out vehicle, especially a car.
Can also refer to a piece of earthenware pottery; informally, something considered worthless or nonsensical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'crock' is primarily used for an old vehicle. In American English, it is less common for vehicles but appears in 'crock pot' (slow cooker) and in phrases like 'a crock of shit' meaning nonsense.
Connotations
In UK, it can have a humorous or nostalgic connotation for old cars. In US, it often has a derogatory connotation when referring to nonsense.
Frequency
More frequent in British English for describing old cars; in American English, 'crock pot' is a household term, and the vulgar phrase is known but less common in polite speech.
Grammar
How to Use “crock” in a Sentence
crock up (intransitive phrasal verb)crock (transitive verb, rare)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crock” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vintage car crocked up on the way to the show.
American English
- He crocked his ankle during the basketball game.
adjective
British English
- After the accident, he was crocked and couldn't work.
American English
- The crocked engine needed a complete overhaul.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear informally in discussions about outdated equipment.
Academic
Not typically used; except in archaeological or historical contexts referring to pottery.
Everyday
Common in informal speech to describe old cars or worthless things.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts; no specific technical meaning.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crock”
- Using 'crock' to mean a mistake or error, which is incorrect.
- Confusing with 'croc' (short for crocodile).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'crock' is generally informal and is often used in casual speech to describe old vehicles or nonsense.
Yes, 'crock' can be used as a verb, often in the phrasal verb 'crock up', meaning to become ill or injured.
A 'crock pot' is a brand of slow cooker, commonly used in American English to refer to any slow cooker.
It can be, especially in phrases like 'a crock of shit', which is vulgar. When referring to an old car, it is usually humorous or derogatory but not inherently offensive.
An old or worn-out vehicle, especially a car.
Crock: in British English it is pronounced /krɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /krɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a crock of nonsense”
- “crock up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old car that croaks like a frog—it's a crock.
Conceptual Metaphor
Aging or broken objects as worthless remnants.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'crock' in British English?