crack

crack heads together: see bang heads together atbang.

crack a book open a book and read it; study. North American informal

crack a bottle open a bottle, especially of wine, and drink it.

crack a crib break into a house. British informal, dated

the crack of dawn very early in the morning.

☞ Crack here means the instant of time occupied by the crack of a whip.

crack of doom a peal of thunder announcing the Day of Judgement.

☞ The idea of thunder announcing the Last Judgement comes from several passages in the book of Revelation (e.g., 6:1, 8:5).

a fair crack of the whip fair treatment; a chance to participate or compete on equal terms. British informal

1989T. M. AlbertTales of the Ulster Detective You might think that the police concocted the circumstances to deny these men a fair crack of the whip.

crack wise make jokes. North American informal

have a crack at make an attempt at doing, achieving, or winning (something).

paper over the cracks: seepaper.

slip (or fall) through the cracks escape from or be missed by something organized to catch or deal with you.