cracks
n. countablen. narrow lines or spaces on the surface of something where it has broken. You often see them in old walls, dry ground, or broken glass.
n. narrow openings or fissures caused by the separation of parts of a solid body. Often used figuratively to describe the first signs of failure or weakness in a system or relationship.
The old wall has several deep cracks in it.
After the long summer drought, wide cracks began to appear in the dry soil of the garden.
While the company's public image remained strong, internal memos revealed growing cracks in the management structure that eventually led to a complete reorganization.
Commonly used with the preposition 'in' to indicate the location of the fissure.
- 01
fall between the cracks
To wind up in an unexpected situation which is, inadvertently, invisible to or not handled by whatever process one had hoped to be subject to; to be overlooked.
- 02
fall through the cracks
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
- 03
slip through the cracks
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.