1 C1 idiomatic informal
To continue doing something; to keep going despite difficulties.
"It's getting late, but we'd better cock on if we want to finish before dark."
inseparable
cock on
C1 informal intransitive
A rare dialectal British expression meaning to continue or carry on with something.
In plain English
To keep going; to continue doing something.
What does "cock on" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Rare and regional, found in parts of northern England. In standard British English, 'carry on' or 'crack on' are preferred. ESL learners should use 'carry on' or 'press on' instead.
Words that pair with "cock on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work task journey regardless
How to conjugate "cock on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cock on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cocks on
he/she/it
Past simple
cocked on
yesterday
Past participle
cocked on
have + pp
-ing form
cocking on
continuous
Hear "cock on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cock on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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