Phrasal verb
crack through
Definition
phrasal verb. to finish a task or a piece of work quickly and with a lot of energy.
phrasal verb. to complete a task or a volume of work rapidly and efficiently. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the task or material being processed.
Examples
“I need to crack through these emails before lunch.”
“If we all work together, we can crack through the cleaning in just an hour.”
“The legal team managed to crack through the mountain of discovery documents just hours before the court-mandated deadline.”
Examples
simple
“I need to crack through these emails before lunch.”
contextual
“If we all work together, we can crack through the cleaning in just an hour.”
complex
“The legal team managed to crack through the mountain of discovery documents just hours before the court-mandated deadline.”
Usage
usually takes a task or a collection of items as its object.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'plough through', which suggests the work is tedious, whereas 'crack through' focuses on the speed and energy of completion.
Pitfall
I cracked through of the reports.
I cracked through the reports.
no 'of' after 'through' — the object follows the particle directly.
Phrasal verb
Particles
through
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
crack + through + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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