crack a puzzle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crack a puzzle" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to someone solving a puzzle or conundrum. For example, "She was able to crack the puzzle in record time, much to everyone's amazement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But it looks beautiful, plays fantastically and gives you an immense sense of achievement when you finally crack a puzzle.

Independent

"Thank you for the dreams but wait a little if you please/I just need a little ease to crack a puzzle in my heart," she sang in a new song, "Happy Ever After," tightly harmonizing each crisp syllable with a backup singer, Jennifer Marshall, while they clowned together as well.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It's like cracking a puzzle".

The New York Times

Shouryya Ray, a 16-year-old German student, has cracked a puzzle that has stumped mathematicians since Sir Isaac Newton first posed the problem more than 350 years ago.

Huffington Post

Keeping up development budgets – to take research from the lab to commercial reality – is one way of trying to crack a productivity puzzle where huge growth in the workforce has led to only marginally increased output.

Independent

They have roughly twenty-five years to crack an amazingly difficult scientific puzzle, maybe — hopefully — a decade more.

The New Yorker

and "Crack a Bottle".

Wikipedia

The attraction also fits with the rise in popularity of real life escape games, in which participants have to escape from a locked room by cracking a series of puzzles.

The Guardian - Travel

"I don't have them all, but when I do, I think I'll crack the puzzle," he tells his daughter Lena, before launching into a baffling thesis based around portals to another world.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

They're trying to translate the code on the Hunter's Sword and Klaus has a lot of ancient, relevant knowledge to help them crack the puzzle.

Huffington Post

I try to crack the puzzle.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crack a puzzle" when you want to emphasize the intellectual challenge and satisfaction of solving a complex problem, especially one with a defined solution.

Common error

Avoid using "crack a puzzle" metaphorically for situations that don't involve a clear, solvable problem. It's less appropriate for open-ended issues or ongoing conflicts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crack a puzzle" functions as a verb phrase, where 'crack' acts as a transitive verb meaning 'to solve,' and 'a puzzle' is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "crack a puzzle" is a valid and commonly used expression that means to solve a puzzle or figure out a complex problem. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science. While grammatically straightforward, it's best used when describing situations that involve a clear, solvable problem. Alternative expressions include "solve a mystery", "figure out a riddle", and "unravel a conundrum". By understanding its nuances and context, you can effectively use "crack a puzzle" in your writing to convey the idea of successfully overcoming a challenging problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unravel a conundrum

Similar to "crack a puzzle" but emphasizes the untangling of a complex and confusing problem.

figure out a riddle

Specifically targets the act of finding the solution to a riddle, making it less versatile than "crack a puzzle".

resolve an enigma

Suggests the solving of a mysterious or inexplicable situation, differing slightly in tone from "crack a puzzle".

solve a mystery

Focuses on uncovering hidden or unknown information, differing from the general problem-solving aspect of "crack a puzzle".

work out a solution

Slightly more informal than "crack a puzzle", suggesting a more gradual and considered approach to problem-solving.

break a complex problem

Emphasizes the effort and process of simplifying and solving something difficult, while "crack a puzzle" is more immediate.

decipher a code

Implies the interpretation of a coded message, a narrower focus than the broader problem-solving implied by "crack a puzzle".

get to the bottom of a matter

Focuses on fully understanding the truth or cause of something, while "crack a puzzle" specifically relates to solving a problem.

find a solution to a problem

More general and less evocative than "crack a puzzle", focusing on the outcome rather than the process.

untangle a web of deceit

This refers to revealing the truth in a situation involving deception and is a more specific application than the more general 'crack a puzzle'.

FAQs

How can I use "crack a puzzle" in a sentence?

You can use "crack a puzzle" to describe solving a literal puzzle, such as "She managed to crack the puzzle in under an hour" or a metaphorical one, such as "The detectives worked tirelessly to crack the puzzle of the missing jewels".

What does it mean to "crack a puzzle"?

To "crack a puzzle" means to successfully solve a puzzle or figure out a complex problem. It implies a sense of achievement and intellectual effort.

Is there a difference between "solve a puzzle" and "crack a puzzle"?

While both phrases mean to find the solution to a puzzle, "crack a puzzle" often implies a more challenging or difficult problem that requires significant effort to solve. "Solve a puzzle" is a more general term.

What are some synonyms for "crack a puzzle"?

Synonyms for "crack a puzzle" include "solve a mystery", "figure out a riddle", and "unravel a conundrum". The best synonym depends on the specific context.