at the crack of dawn

at the crack of dawn

Very early in the morning, when the sun rises (dawn). It's a long drive, so we'll have to leave at the crack of dawn if we want to get there on time.
See also: crack, dawn, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at the crack of dawn

 and at the break of dawn
Fig. at the earliest light of the day. Jane was always awake at the crack of dawn. The birds start singing at the break of dawn.
See also: crack, dawn, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

at the crack of dawn

If you do something at the crack of dawn, you do it very early in the morning. I'm not used to getting up at the crack of dawn. We set off at the crack of dawn.
See also: crack, dawn, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • at the break of dawn
  • dawn
  • the crack of dawn
  • crack of dawn
  • crack of dawn, (at) the
  • from dawn to dusk
  • early beam
  • early beams
  • crack open
  • want the first crack at (something)
References in periodicals archive
Rising at the crack of dawn in the depths of winter struggling with arthritis, then out to do an eight-hour shift is not what most old folk would prescribe as a tonic to boost their health.
Work until we're 75? We're not machines
Nobody likes to be woken up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning, particularly by the sound of bagpipes of all things.
Why you shouldn't be angry if you're woken up by bagpipes at 6am this Sunday; Bagpipes will sound bright and early at 6am tomorrow - but there's a good reason why
The GMB co-host shovels the morning meals in because he is so hungry after waking up at the crack of dawn to start work.
TV STARS EAT TOO; Thinking outside the box with Nicola Methven & Mark Jefferies; SQUARE EYES
Marine might have been underdogs, the coaches may have had to leave at the crack of dawn for the 3pm kick-off, and it might have been just a fortnight after Christmas, but more than 150 intrepid supporters made the long journey south.
Devoted fans loving their Marine life
THE worker is up at the crack of dawn, Optimistic from the day he was born.
POEM OF THE DAY; A Day in the Life of
But he has a habit of waking us up at the crack of dawn and demands his breakfast.
PDSA vet IAN FLEMING answers your questions
A HUSBAND and wife are looking forward to getting their lives back after almost 30 years of getting up at the crack of dawn to serve the community.
Owners of Westgate News retire after almost 30 years
A PIC journalist said hordes of Israeli settlers flocked to the town at the crack of dawn and performed rituals at Islamic shrines.
Israeli settlers storm Islamic sites in Salfit
Seventy- year- old Bharpai Pihal says, " At the crack of dawn, around 5 am, both children and adults queue up along the drain.
Open defecation in urban areas
CAROL Kirkwood isn't just one of our favourite weather presenters, she also looks fab despite getting up at the crack of dawn for BBC Breakfast.
CAROL KIRKWOOD
According to local sources, four Palestinian civilians were rushed to the Khalil Suleiman public hospital in Jenin to be urgently treated for the wounds and bruises they sustained after they were heavily beaten by the Israeli troops at the crack of dawn, PIC reported.
Injuries, Arrests Reported in Israeli Forces' Attacks on Palestinian Civilians
The challenge starts at the crack of dawn, beginning with mountain biking in the Grizedale Forest before taking to the water for a three-mile kayak on Lake Coniston.
A charity challenge with a difference
According to security sources, the terrorists released the father and son also on Monday at the crack of dawn.
PKK blocks road, sets vehicles on fire in eastern Turkey
As well as getting up at the crack of dawn to co-host Good Morning Britain, he also finds time to front this quiz show.
SATURDAY July 12
THE QUEEN'S Baton relay was due to reach the foothills of Snowdon at the crack of dawn today.
Games baton heading up Snowdon