English Reference
Idiom idiom

crack of dawn


The first moment of daylight; the instant at which sunrise begins.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

We left for the airport at the crack of dawn.

CONTEXTUAL

The farmers were already working in the fields at the crack of dawn to beat the midday heat.

COMPLEX

Despite the freezing temperatures, the determined hikers set off at the crack of dawn to reach the mountain summit before the afternoon clouds arrived.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all it's cracked up to be

    As good as claims or reputation would suggest.

  2. 02

    crack a crust

    To make a living.

  3. 03

    crack a fat

    To get an erection of the penis.

  4. 04

    crack a smile

    To smile, especially while attempting not to.

  5. 05

    crack down

    To take harsh action (against), as when enforcing a law more stringently than before.

  6. 06

    crack through

    To penetrate

  7. 07

    crack up

    To laugh.

  8. 08

    dawn of a new day

    A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.

Last updated August 10, 2026