Skip to main content
crash course

crash course

17 3.4
A short course that teaches important skills quickly
  • noun
  • /kræʃ kɔrs/
translation icon : curso intensivo
  • In Binay Cahn's case, she gave herself a crash course in how options work before making investments.
  • a crash course in history
  • give a crash course

So yes, I guess we should do a little crash course explaining how the game works.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • It's gonna be a crash course in client relations.

  • To understand the Spanish and their customs, one must first take a crash course on their relationship with food.

    Blog text (2)
  • And I do in person real estate crash course events because I believe in this so much.

  • I could give you a crash course in this place.

  • You need to give him a crash course.

  • As background for understanding these questions, let's begin with a crash course in Jewish history.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The second exercise is a crash course in electronic assembly.

    Academic text (1995)
  • For anyone who is short of time, a one-day crash course covering basic skills is also available.

    Blog text (29)
  • Affiliate marketing is the easiest way to take a crash course in online marketing.

    Blog text (29)
  • So, in the last week, I've had something of a crash course in Bob Dylan.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

minilesson
vscrash course
3.5

A short teaching session about one topic or skill

is more intensive and covers essential material quickly

How Intensive

boot camp
27 4.1
intensive
1 4.2
crash course
17 3.4
overview
74 3.8

Surface Forms

crash course singular
crash courses plural

Morphology

crash + course

The sense of 'crash course' is partially derivable: 'course' = series of lessons and 'crash' evokes suddenness/intensity, so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer a short, intensive course. However, the use of 'crash' in this metaphorical, non-literal way is lexicalized and not fully predictable from the literal meaning, so prior exposure helps.

Etymology

Crash course likely comes from the strong image of crash meaning a sudden, forceful hit — imagine information 'hitting' you all at once like a small crash. That's why a crash course means 'a short, intensive class that teaches the most important things fast'.