: "He started cracking up during the meeting" (he began laughing uncontrollably).
The term gained deep literary weight through F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1936 essay collection, The Crack-Up . In these pieces, Fitzgerald used the term to describe his own nervous breakdown and the "spiritual bankruptcy" he felt after his early success. This popularized the "cracked up" meaning as a metaphor for a person whose internal structure has finally given way under the weight of life. Usage Type Definition Hyped up or said to be great "The new iPhone isn't all it's cracked up to be." Humor To laugh uncontrollably "I crack up every time I see that meme." Breakdown To collapse under stress "He feared he would crack up if the workload increased." Physical To break or damage "The windshield was completely cracked up after the hail." The Phrasal Verb 'Crack Up' Explained Cracked Up Meaning
: You might use this for a restaurant that everyone recommends but that you find underwhelming. : "He started cracking up during the meeting"
: "That comedian really cracks me up" (he makes me laugh a lot). 3. Mental and Physical Breakdown In these pieces, Fitzgerald used the term to
Alternatively, the phrase can have a much more serious tone, referring to a loss of control under pressure.
The most common idiomatic use is in the phrase This refers to something that has been praised or "hyped up" but fails to live up to its reputation. Meaning : To be asserted as good, favorable, or legendary.
In a modern, informal context, "cracking up" describes an intense reaction to something funny.