cracked
- 01 B1 Intermediate
having thin lines on the surface because of damage, but not completely broken into pieces.
exhibiting narrow fissures or surface breaks without total structural failure.
Simple“I need to get my phone screen fixed because it is badly cracked.”
In context“The archaeologist carefully brushed the dirt away from the cracked surface of the ancient vase, hoping the structural damage was only superficial.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
extremely good at something, especially playing video games.
demonstrating exceptional skill or mechanical precision, particularly within the context of competitive gaming.
Simple“That player is absolutely cracked; he hasn't missed a single shot all game.”
In context“The community considers the new rookie cracked after he managed to outplay three professional veterans during the final round of the tournament.”
Teacher's tipThis is very common in Gen Z and gaming culture; it is a high compliment for skill, not a negative term.
- 03 C1 Advanced
acting in a strange or crazy way.
mentally unstable or eccentric. Often used in the phrase 'cracked-up'.
Simple“You must be cracked if you think you can jump over that wide river.”
In context“The old man lived in a house full of clocks and had some rather cracked ideas about how time actually worked.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
sounding rough or broken, like a voice that is losing its strength.
characterised by a harsh, dissonant, or broken quality, typically referring to a person's voice or a musical note.
Simple“He tried to sing the high note, but his cracked voice made it sound terrible.”
In context“The singer's cracked delivery added a layer of raw emotion to the performance, though it was technically imperfect.”
“Last year, the rookie comic cracked a joke on stage about Doctor Who’s Ncuti Gatwa.”
“I saw some walls were cracked,” he added.”
See crack. The origin of the slang sense “skilled (at a game)” is disputed, but may derive from the much older term crack shot (“one who is skilled at shooting”). Compare cracking, crackerjack.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.