about to crack

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about to crack" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is on the verge of breaking down emotionally or physically, or when something is close to breaking. Example: "After weeks of stress and pressure, I felt like I was about to crack under the weight of it all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

More stories like this: Back to the future: are we about to crack energy fusion?

The Guardian

eMaThe-firstg: Why Poverty and Chaos is Driving Pro-Gamers to Risk Everything.

Vice

In the ninth, it appeared Gallardo was about to crack.

The New York Times

She looked as if she were about to crack.

The New York Times

Each facial tic was analysed as potential evidence that Israel was about to crack.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You've joined the BBC (Jimmy boy) and it's just about to crack.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

One paper written by Jack Good, one of the engineers who helped create Colossus, and published in 1970 mentioned a "classified, electronic" machine that used 1,000 valves to calculate "complicated Boolean functions involving up to about 100 symbols" to crack codes.

BBC

Backstage, the designer talked about wanting to crack the obvious vision of how a man's wardrobe should look.

The New York Times

They were handling 500 calls a day from people who said they had seen Etan or had ideas about how to crack the case.

The New York Times

Former prosecutors, lawyers, bankers and mortgage employees say that investigators and regulators ignored past lessons about how to crack financial fraud.

The New York Times

The United Nations fired 11 local policemen for frequenting brothels and tipping off their owners about raids to crack down on trafficking in sex workers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about to crack" to effectively convey a sense of impending failure, either physical or emotional. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is at risk of breaking.

Common error

Avoid using "about to crack" in situations that are not genuinely serious or tense. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about to crack" functions as a predictive expression, indicating that a state or entity is imminently approaching a breaking point, whether literal or figurative. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about to crack" is a frequently used phrase that correctly signifies an impending breaking point. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts, with a prevalence in news and media. When writing, ensure its usage aligns with the gravity of the situation to avoid diminishing its impact. Consider related phrases like "on the verge of collapse" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of collapse

Focuses on the imminence of a breakdown, whether physical or metaphorical.

close to breaking point

Highlights the nearness to a critical limit, suggesting potential failure.

ready to snap

Emphasizes a sudden, forceful breaking, often in an emotional context.

at the end of one's rope

Suggests a state of desperation and exhaustion, nearing the limit of endurance.

about to fall apart

Implies disintegration or failure is imminent, often in a gradual sense.

on the brink of failure

Stresses the proximity to an unsuccessful outcome, whether in a project or situation.

nearing the breaking point

Similar to 'close to breaking point', but emphasizes the process of approaching that limit.

about to lose it

Refers specifically to losing control of one's emotions or mental state.

on thin ice

Indicates being in a precarious situation, where a mistake could lead to negative consequences.

reaching a critical mass

Emphasizes a point where accumulated pressure or factors are about to trigger a significant event or change.

FAQs

How can I use "about to crack" in a sentence?

You can use "about to crack" to describe something or someone on the verge of breaking, either physically or emotionally. For example, "The old bridge looked like it was about to crack," or "After the intense pressure, she felt like she was about to crack."

What are some alternatives to "about to crack"?

Alternatives include "on the verge of collapse", "close to breaking point", or "ready to snap". The best alternative depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "about to be cracked"?

While grammatically possible, "about to be cracked" is less common than "about to crack". "About to crack" implies an imminent breaking point, while "about to be cracked" suggests an external force is preparing to break something. Choose the phrasing that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "about to crack" and "already cracked"?

"About to crack" describes a situation where something is on the verge of breaking but hasn't yet. "Already cracked" indicates that the breaking has already occurred and the damage is done.