Cracking the word ‘crack’

🗣

In this lesson, we’ll discover various meanings of the word ‘crack’.

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Introduction

Exercise 1

Match phrases to pictures

crack cocaine

are you on crack?

to crack

tough nut to crack

crack of dawn

crack the code

you can’t make an omelette without cracking a few eggs

crack under pressure

crack somebody up

crack jokes

10.

Practise

Exercise 2

Fill in the gaps with the word ‘crack’ in the right form. Explain the meaning of the word ‘crack’ in each example.

I fell and … a bone in my arm. 🩼🦴

We all … up at Josh's joke. 🤣

Your students clearly don't respect you. I know you don't want to yell at them, but you can't make an omelette without … a few eggs. 🍳

The surface of the road … in several places. 💔

I … a few jokes to try to cheer everyone up. 😆

He is addicted to … 💉

She's calm and strong, and she is just not going to … 😣

Our super-strict principal is a tough nut to …, so I hope Kate can convince her to let us host this event. 🤔

Her voice … because of stress. 😓

Stress and overwork are causing teachers to … ☹️

You want me to find more money in the budget? Ha, there's a tough nut to …! 🤔

He … the safe and took all the money. 🔓

That comedian always … me up. 😄

Several kilos of … were found in her luggage. 💉

He was said to have … under the pressure and resigned. 😩

Jill: Why do they have to tear down that beautiful old building to build an office park? Jane: You can't make an omelet without … eggs. 🍳

We'll have to leave at the … of dawn. 🌇

A stone hit the window and … the glass. 🏚️

Answers

cracked, cracked, cracking, cracked, cracked, crack (cocaine), crack, crack, cracked, crack, crack, cracked, cracks, crack (cocaine), cracked, cracking, crack, cracked

Exercise 3

Let’s see if you remember the phrases from ex. 1. Look at the same pictures again and fill in the gaps.

c… c…

t… n… to c…

c… of d…

a… you … c…?

c…

c… under p…

c… somebody …

can’t make an … without … a few …

c… j…

c… the c…

Clip analysis

Exercise 4

Watch the clip and fill in the gaps.

"Seems you've had … … …." (meaning ‘you’ve had a good life’)

"Yeah, Thailand … good … me." (meaning ‘I have benefited from being in Thailand’)

"But … good … Thailand?" (meaning ‘how has Thailand benefited from you?’)

"I'd say so … …disagree." (meaning ‘some people wouldn’t agree’)

Well, …………………………….., am I right?" (meaning ‘accept some negative consequences to achieve your goal’)

"This is a great country. And back then, not much red tape You hit a road…, (meaning ‘run into difficulties’) you had a lot of options."

Exercise 5

Fill in the gaps with the phrases from the clip you’ve just watched.

… … a … … he’s good … me

🤔

red tape - official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results:

Origins: mid-17th century (denoting the red or pink tape used to bind official documents)

-He promised to reform and cut red tape.

-Reducing taxes and red tape would help to create new companies.

-You have to go through endless red tape to get a residence permit.

Exercise 6

Fill in the gaps and answer the questions.

Have you ever … a bone? What was the situation? 🦴

Are you the type of person who enjoys waking up at the crack of …, or do you dread it? 🌇

Do you enjoy escape rooms? Do you crack … easily? 🔓

Give me an example of how something cracked you … in a serious situation. 🤣

When you’re nervous, do you tend to crack …, or does humour completely leave your mind? 🃏

Think of a situation when as a teenager you asked your parents for something outrageous and they were like, “… you … crack?” 🤪

Have you ever faced a project or assignment that was a … … to crack, and how did you eventually manage to get it done? 🤔

Do you think schools should be responsible for teaching students specifically about drugs like crack …, or should it primarily be the parents' responsibility? 💉

Can you remember a family event, like preparing for Christmas dinner or a big celebration, where someone cracked … …? How did everyone else react? 😫

Have you ever had to remind yourself that "you can't make an … without cracking a few …" when: giving feedback, renovating, moving to a new city, learning a new skill? 🎓