crack on

present singular third person cracks on · participle present cracking on · participle past cracked on · past cracked on

1. informalintransitiveTo continue (at a task) briskly or promptly.

   Naked Twister will have to wait. I've got to crack on with my essay.

   3 more examples

   What's the use of cracking-on for nothing? Would you slip it now if you got the chance?

   1888, Kipling, The Madness of Private Ortheris

   Landlady: You're not stoppin' for a brew? Gene Hunt: No thanks, love. Better crack on.

   2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3

   "We strongly urge the Government to crack on with projects for electrifying lines throughout the UK or identify alternative lower-carbon motive power solutions."

   2023 March 22, “Select Committee wants electrification at the heart of low-carbon initiative”, in RAIL, number 979, page 8

   Synonyms: get on

2. informalintransitiveTo continue apace.

   The project is really cracking on.

   1 more example

   We crack on eastbound, passing the station at Worksop and that at Retford Low Level (I'm following the route with great interest thanks to my Quail atlas).

   2022 December 14, Pip Dunn, “Caroline is ready for inspection...”, in RAIL, number 972, page 51

3. datedtransitiveTo put on.

   to crack on more sail, or more steam

4. slangtransitiveTo crack down on or arrest (someone).

   They need to crack on those drug dealers.