The most common idiomatic use is in the phrase This refers to something that has been praised or "hyped up" but fails to live up to its reputation. Meaning : To be asserted as good, favorable, or legendary.
: You might use this for a restaurant that everyone recommends but that you find underwhelming. Cracked Up Meaning
: "That comedian really cracks me up" (he makes me laugh a lot). 3. Mental and Physical Breakdown The most common idiomatic use is in the
: It can also describe a physical collapse or the breaking of an object into many pieces. : "That comedian really cracks me up" (he
The term gained deep literary weight through F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1936 essay collection, The Crack-Up . In these pieces, Fitzgerald used the term to describe his own nervous breakdown and the "spiritual bankruptcy" he felt after his early success. This popularized the "cracked up" meaning as a metaphor for a person whose internal structure has finally given way under the weight of life. Usage Type Definition Hyped up or said to be great "The new iPhone isn't all it's cracked up to be." Humor To laugh uncontrollably "I crack up every time I see that meme." Breakdown To collapse under stress "He feared he would crack up if the workload increased." Physical To break or damage "The windshield was completely cracked up after the hail." The Phrasal Verb 'Crack Up' Explained
4. Literary Significance: F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Crack-Up"