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crank out

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To make a lot of something very quickly, like a machine.

Literal meaning: To turn a crank handle to produce items — like an old-fashioned machine generating output.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To produce something in large quantities very quickly, often in a routine or mechanical way.

"The factory cranks out over five thousand units a day."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To write or create content rapidly and in volume, sometimes implying low quality.

"She cranks out a new blog post every single day without fail."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To produce a lot of graduates, employees, or trained people in a systematic way.

"Universities are cranking out more law graduates than the job market can absorb."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Implies efficiency but often with a hint of criticism about quality or creativity. Common in journalism, publishing, and business contexts. Widely used in American English.

Commonly used with

reports articles products songs emails graduates

Forms

Base
crank out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cranks out
he/she/it
Past simple
cranked out
yesterday
Past participle
cranked out
have + pp
-ing form
cranking out
continuous

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Synonyms

churn out pump out turn out produce manufacture generate

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