1 C1 informal
To cause a piece of something brittle to break away from the main surface or object.
"She accidentally cracked off a corner of the antique tile while cleaning it."
separable
crack off
C1 informal separable transitive
To break or detach a piece from something by cracking it.
In plain English
To break a piece off something by cracking it.
What does "crack off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For something to crack and then come off — fully transparent.
Actually means
To break a piece off something by cracking it.
Usage tip
Uncommon as a set phrasal verb. Used descriptively in literal contexts — a piece of plaster, ice, or another brittle material cracking off a surface.
Words that pair with "crack off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
piece chunk plaster ice branch edge
How to conjugate "crack off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
crack off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cracks off
he/she/it
Past simple
cracked off
yesterday
Past participle
cracked off
have + pp
-ing form
cracking off
continuous
Hear "crack off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "crack off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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