# crack through

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crack-through
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to finish a task or a piece of work quickly and with a lot of energy.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I cracked through of the reports." but "I cracked through the reports." — no 'of' after 'through' — the object follows the particle directly.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.