# crackers

/ˈkɹækɝz/ (US) · /kɹˈækəz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crackers
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. crazy or insane

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

acting in a way that is silly, strange, or crazy.

For teachers: mentally unbalanced, eccentric, or behaving in an irrational manner.

- You must be crackers if you think I am going for a swim in this freezing weather.
- The neighbors thought he had gone completely crackers when he started building a full-sized replica of a pirate ship in his tiny backyard.

Usage: Usually follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'go'.

Teaching tip: This is a very common Britishism; learners should be aware it sounds distinctly UK-centric and is too informal for professional writing.

### 2. dry biscuits

noun · CEFR A2

thin, dry, and usually salty biscuits that you often eat with cheese.

For teachers: plural form of a thin, crisp, savory wafer or biscuit.

- We served some cheese and crackers as a snack before the main meal started.
- The host arranged an assortment of artisanal crackers and aged cheddar on a wooden platter for the guests to enjoy during the reception.

Usage: Countable noun; almost always used in the plural when referring to the food item.

## Examples

- He must be crackers to go swimming in this freezing weather.
- The neighbors think I am crackers because I spend all day talking to my plants in the garden.
- While some viewed his business plan as a stroke of genius, others were convinced he had gone completely crackers for investing his entire inheritance into a single startup.

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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.