all cracked up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all cracked up" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "all cracked up to be." You can use it when discussing something that is perceived to be better or more impressive than it actually is.
Example: "The movie was not as good as everyone said; it wasn't all cracked up to be."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

They all cracked up.

The New York Times - Style

"You're whistling, Jason," said one of the wrestlers and they all cracked up laughing.

The New York Times

John Richards went: 'You tell it, Steve.' I said: 'But you've just heard it.' The lads persuaded me and all cracked up".

Independent

We were all naming categories of visual art practitioners and someone said, 'We were doing postmodern dance at Judson.' We all cracked up and no one countered us".

The Guardian

Last night, when Josh had goosed her with his GameBoy, she'd shot a spray of toothpaste across the mirror and they'd all cracked up, rolling around on the floor with Goochie, and Josh had said, such nostalgia in his voice, "Mom, remember when Goochie was a puppy?" Which was when Abbie had burst into tears, because, being only five, she had no memory of Goochie as a puppy.

The New Yorker

Paul just threw that out and we all cracked up.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Is it just me or are they all cracking up through this whole thing or is just their bright, happy smiles and, erm, chests?

TechCrunch

It usually ends when the kids are all cracking up and finally get bored.

Huffington Post

Are exec lounges all they're cracked up to be?

The Guardian - Money

But is becoming what is often referred to as a 'parentpreneur' all it's cracked up to be?

The Guardian

Are personal genomes all they're cracked up to be?

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using the complete phrase "all it's cracked up to be" for grammatical precision. While "all cracked up" is understood, the full form provides clarity and avoids potential ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the truncated form "all cracked up" in professional reports or academic papers. The omission of "to be" can make your writing seem informal or incomplete.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all cracked up" functions primarily as a predicate adjective, often used informally to express that something or someone does not meet expectations or is not as impressive as believed. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct form is "all cracked up to be".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all cracked up" is an informal way of saying something isn't as good as it's purported to be. While understood, Ludwig AI considers the complete form "all cracked up to be" to be the grammatically correct version. This expression appears most often in news and media contexts, serving to express skepticism or disappointment. For formal writing, it's best to opt for the full phrase or consider alternatives like "overrated" or "doesn't live up to the hype". Using the complete phrase ensures grammatical precision and greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not all it's made out to be

Similar to the original phrase, but implies external misrepresentation.

doesn't live up to the hype

Highlights that the subject has received more attention or praise than it deserves.

not as good as it seems

Emphasizes the difference between appearance and reality; simpler wording.

not worth the fuss

Expresses the sentiment that something is not worthy of the attention or concern it receives.

not as wonderful as imagined

Focuses on the imaginative aspect of high expectation versus reality.

overrated

Critiques something as being more highly valued than its true worth.

less impressive than expected

Emphasizes the gap between anticipated and actual impressiveness.

a letdown

Highlights the disappointment resulting from unmet expectations.

fails to impress

Focuses on a failure to make a favorable or strong impact.

disappointing

A simpler way to express the feeling of dissatisfaction when expectations are not met.

FAQs

What does "all cracked up" mean?

The phrase "all cracked up" means that something is not as good as people say it is. However, this is an incomplete phrase. The complete phrase is "all it's cracked up to be".

When should I use "all cracked up to be"?

Use "all it's cracked up to be" when you want to express that something or someone doesn't live up to expectations or hype. It's often used to express disappointment or skepticism.

Is "all cracked up" grammatically correct?

While "all cracked up" is commonly used in informal speech, it's grammatically incomplete. The correct and more formal version is "all it's cracked up to be". Using the full phrase ensures grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternatives to saying "all cracked up to be"?

Alternatives include "overrated", "not as good as it seems", or "doesn't live up to the hype". These phrases convey a similar meaning of disappointment or unmet expectations.