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Glite Dictionary
to crack a problem

to crack a problem

3.9
Find a way to solve a hard problem
  • phrasal verb
  • /kræk ə ˈprɑbləm/
translation icon : resolver un problema
  • The research team finally managed to crack a problem that had puzzled scientists for years.

Examples

  • After hours of brainstorming, she was delighted to crack a problem in the project design.

  • Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to crack a problem others think is impossible.

  • Can you crack a problem like this?

  • I believe I can crack a problem easily.

  • After hours of brainstorming, she was delighted to crack a problem in the project design.

  • Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective to crack a problem others think is impossible.

  • The research team finally managed to crack a problem that had puzzled scientists for years.

Synonyms

to break
vsto crack a problem
298 5.5

To find the solution to a difficult problem

focuses on finding answers for difficult issues generally and not only secret tasks
to solve problems
vsto crack a problem
48 2.7

To find solutions to difficult situations

focuses on finding answers mainly for difficult or challenging situations
to crack the code
vsto crack a problem
14 5.7

To find the secret meaning or solution in something difficult

applies to finding answers more widely and not only decoding hard cases

Antonyms

to complicate
101 4.1

To make something harder to understand or do

How Well

to master
191 4.1
to crack a problem
3.9
to solve
∞ 1.3
to work out
950 2.8

Surface Forms

crack a problem infinitive
cracked a problem past
cracked a problem past participle
cracking a problem present participle
cracks a problem third person singular

Morphology

crack + a + problem

The sense 'to find a solution' is a metaphorical extension of 'crack' (literally 'break' or 'overcome'), so a learner who knows 'crack' and 'problem' can partly infer that meaning (as in 'crack the code'). However, the use of 'crack' for 'solve' is somewhat idiomatic and not strictly compositional, so without prior exposure a B1 learner may not reliably predict this sense.

Etymology

Crack a problem may come from the image of breaking something hard to get inside. Think of crack as breaking a tough shell or a code and the problem as what is inside; once you 'crack' it you find the answer, so it means 'to solve' a hard problem.