cracked

be not what it's cracked up to be

To be not as good, enjoyable, special, or worthwhile as people insist or believe. Honestly, the movie isn't what it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it. If you ask me, long-term relationships just aren't what they're cracked up to be.

all it's cracked up to be

Something lives up to its name or reputation. It is as good as it was said to be. Often but not always used in the negative. I'm so impressed with my new car—a luxury car really is all it's cracked up to be! Don't get your hopes up—I've heard this roller coaster isn't all it's cracked up to be.

cracked

Fig. solved; understood. (*Typically: get something~; have something ~.) I've got the mystery cracked! After I get it cracked, the rest'll be easy.

cracked up to be something

and cracked up to be; cracked up as something

alleged or understood to be something. She was cracked up to be a pretty good player. She was cracked up as a pretty good golfer. (Used with the negative.) He is not the problem solving CEO that he was cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up

not all something is cracked up to be

and not what something is cracked up to be

Fig. not as good as something is said to be. (Not always in the negative.) This isn't a very good pen. It's not all it's cracked up to be. Is this one all it's cracked up to be?

what someone or something is cracked up to be

what someone or something is supposed to be. This pizza isn't what it's cracked up to be. I wanted to find out whether this stuff was what it is cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up

not all it is cracked up to be

also not what it is cracked up to be

not as good or special as people said or believed The general opinion is that love affairs aren't all they're cracked up to be.

not be all it's cracked up to be

if something is not all it's cracked up to be, it is not as good as people say it is Her latest book isn't all it's cracked up to be. I wouldn't bother reading it if I were you. It's a good restaurant, but it's not all it's cracked up to be.

cracked up

1. Past tense of crack up.

2. cracked up to be. Reputed to be. This expression is always used in a negative way, as in I don't think this book is all it's cracked up to be. It relies on the now obsolete use of to crack up to mean "to praise extravagantly." It appeared in The Kentuckian: "He is not the thing he is cracked up for" (May 28, 1829). [Early 1800s]

3. Under the influence of crack (a form of cocaine). For example, "Who's cracked up, who's cracked out, and who's dead?" ( World News Tonight, ABC-TV, May 12, 1992). [1980s]

See also: cracked, up

not all it's cracked up to be

It is disappointing, it does not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn't all it's cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of "to praise," which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

cracked

mod. crazy. You’re cracked if you think I’ll agree to that.

cracked up to be

mod. supposed to be. This pizza isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Cato (2)	-	Dutch
Ethan	EE-thən (English)	English, Jewish, French, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Kierra	kee-ER-ə	English (Modern)
Fredo	-	Italian (Rare)
Manley	MAN-lee	English
Hevel	-	Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew