crack up - Definition & Meaning

crack up

Third Person

cracks up

Present Participle

cracking up

Past Tense

cracked up

Past Participle

cracked up

to laugh in a loud or uncontrollable manner

As they watched the comedy show, the friends continuously cracked up at the clever and witty dialogues.
During the lighthearted conversation, they couldn't help but crack up at each other's humorous stories.

Synonyms:

to make someone laugh in a lively or uncontrollable manner

The comedian's hilarious jokes never failed to crack up the audience during the stand-up show.
His witty remarks and funny anecdotes always managed to crack up his friends at social gatherings.
The playful antics of the comedian's pet were enough to crack up everyone in the room.
During the stressful meeting, a well-timed joke from a colleague managed to crack up the entire team.

to experience a mental or emotional collapse, often under extreme stress or pressure

After months of intense workload and minimal rest, the constant pressure caused him to crack up, leading to burnout.
Witnessing the accident left her emotionally shaken, and she started to crack up when recounting the details.
The prolonged isolation during the pandemic caused some individuals to crack up, struggling with the lack of social interaction.
The military veteran, haunted by traumatic memories, began to crack up under the weight of post-traumatic stress.
Experiencing a series of personal setbacks, he reached a point where he started to crack up emotionally and sought professional help.

Synonyms:

to describe something or someone in a positive and enthusiastic way

The journalist cracked up the new restaurant, praising its innovative menu and cozy ambiance in the review.
The professor cracked up the student's research, praising its thorough analysis and original insights.
In the review, the critic cracked up the novel, lauding its compelling narrative and well-developed characters.
During the awards ceremony, the presenter cracked up the actor, commending his outstanding contribution to the film industry.
In the promotional event, the speaker cracked up the upcoming film, emphasizing its talented cast and engaging storyline.

to damage or completely destroy a vehicle in a crash

The motorist narrowly avoided cracking up his car when he swerved to miss a pedestrian.
The investigation revealed that the pilot's error led the small plane to crack up during landing.
The high-speed chase ended tragically when the pursued vehicle finally crack up against a concrete barrier.
The intense rain made the roads slippery, leading to several drivers cracking up their vehicles on the highway.
The driver lost control on the icy road and ended up cracking up the car against a tree.

to tease or joke about someone, often playfully