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crack

crack

43 5.6
A short funny or clever remark
  • noun
  • /krรฆk/
  • Informal
translation icon : comentario ingenioso
  • Was that some kind of crack about ogres?

And so I decided to curb that by making cracks about how much older I was than the students in class.

Examples

  • And so I decided to curb that by making cracks about how much older I was than the students in class.

  • And yeah, the General Hospital crack was funny, but not for the reasons you think.

    Blog text (10)
  • A kid made a crack about her clothes.

  • She was mad because he made some crack about her dress.

  • While they waited for Chick, the comedian made a few cracks about May Anna having a soldier in every port.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • His specialty at parties had always been sarcastic cracks about "crisis" mongers, prophets of pessimism, doomsday moralists.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • She made a clever crack that had everyone laughing at the meeting.

  • During dinner, he always has a crack ready to lighten the mood.

  • Her quick crack about the movie made us all chuckle.

Synonyms

quip
vscrack
20 6.4

A short, clever thing someone says to make people laugh

focuses more on quick spontaneous amusement than on thoughtful provocation
wisecrack
vscrack
  • Informal
12 6.2

A short funny or sarcastic remark meant to be clever

tends to be playful and clever without strong sarcasm
sally
vscrack
1 7.5

A quick, clever remark that makes people laugh

is used broadly for quick clever remarks in any context
cracker joke
vscrack
  • UK
5.0

A very funny joke that makes many people laugh

is milder, a short clever remark not necessarily causing loud laughter

Antonyms

53 2.7

A calm and honest way of speaking or acting that shows you mean what you say

Idioms

To use firm authority to make people work harder and follow rules

to crack a nut
  • Informal
7.3

To use much more force or effort than needed to solve a small problem

8.8

To get a serious head injury that breaks the skull

9.3

A warning slogan saying crack cocaine can kill people

To use much more effort or help than needed to do a small task

To use far more force or effort than needed for a small task

Compounds

20 6.6

A very strong illegal drug people smoke that causes a strong addiction

crack of dawn
  • Informal
19 3.2

Very early in the morning when the sun first appears

9 6.1

A person who uses crack cocaine and cannot stop

4 6.5

A person who hits targets very accurately with a gun

crack whore
  • Offensive
2 9.9

An offensive word for a woman who exchanges sex for crack cocaine, often because she is addicted

1 7.2

A sudden emotional breakdown or a sudden burst of laughter

quarter crack
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A vertical crack on the inside of a horse's front hoof that can make the horse limp

crack of doom
  • Archaic
9.9

The day when God judges everyone and the world ends

8.2

A large tree with stiff branches that break easily, often growing by rivers

creamy crack
  • Slang
9.9

A creamy food that people find very hard to stop eating

ab crack
  • Jargon
9.6

A visible straight line that appears down the middle of the belly from strong stomach muscles

fatigue crack
  • Specialized
7.0

A break in metal or hard material caused by repeated stress

9.9

A strong want to collect plastic toys like action figures or models

sand crack
  • Specialized
9.8

A vertical crack in a horse's hoof that can cause pain

toe crack
  • Specialized
9.9

A crack at the front of a horse's hoof that can make the horse limp

How Funny

zinger
  • Informal
19 8.1
crack
  • Informal
43 5.6
quip
20 6.4
witticism
5 7.2

Surface Forms

crack singular
cracks plural

Etymology

The noun crack for a clever or amusing remark likely comes from the image of a quick, sharp sound or burst, so a 'crack' is like a short, bright line that makes people laugh. A helpful way to remember this is to think of a joke as a sudden pop of fun.