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• crank-up
  crank-up

  noun

  an act or instance of cranking up.
• crank up
  crank up

  verb

  to increase (loudness, output, etc)

crank-up

American  

[krangk-uhp] / ˈkræŋkˌʌp /

noun

1. an act or instance of cranking up.

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crank up British  

verb

1. to increase (loudness, output, etc)

   he cranked up his pace

2. to set in motion or invigorate

   news editors have to crank up tired reporters

3. (intr, adverb) to inject a narcotic drug

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crank up Idioms  

1. Get started, as in The theater season is cranking up with four benefit performances . This expression transfers the literal sense of crank , “operate a motor by turning a crank,” to starting any activity. [ Slang ; 1930s]

2. Stimulate or intensify one's efforts. For example, We've got to crank up enthusiasm for this new product , or Close to the election the campaign really cranked up . [ Slang ; mid-1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of crank-up

First recorded in 1905–10; noun use of verb phrase crank up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crank-up crank up

Borthwick's selections over the campaign have been getting more adventurous, but this was a crank-up of the curveball.

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2025

So crank up the Victrola, press play on Spotify and nestle into your headphones.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

On days that aren’t too hot, they turn on a dashboard fan to help with ventilation rather than crank up the air conditioning, which burns fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

There are limits on how much power each company can draw from the public power grid so fast-growing industries can’t just crank up their consumption whenever they want.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026

Though Americans crank up the thermostat every winter, price increases for electricity and gas utility bills were not as sharp at the same point last year.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 13, 2026

Then while I had my back turned, trying to crank up the Cadillac, Miss Alice Ann disappeared, too—I reckon to go spread the word.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns