The meaning of CRACK UP (in British English) I've read in a book (British publishing) that the phrasal verb 'to crack up' means to get a nervous breakdown. But my American friend said it has another

Mary

The meaning of CRACK UP (in British English) I've read in a book (British publishing) that the phrasal verb 'to crack up' means to get a nervous breakdown. But my American friend said it has another meaning. Does it still have the meaning with a breakdown or it's out of fashion and means another thing? (SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN BRITISH ENGLISH!!!)

Aug 25, 2017 4:43 PM

Answers · 6

I live in England and we only use it to mean to laugh very hard. For example : His joke cracked me up For a nervous breakdown we could say 'to crack under pressure' or 'to crack' but crack up always means to laugh in my experiance

August 25, 2017