French word

craquer

Pronunciation

IPA/kʁake/

Meaning

  • verbbe unable to resist

Example

Je craque toujours devant le chocolat.

I am always unable to resist chocolate.

Illustration for craquer (be unable to resist)

More examples

Elle craque pour lui au premier rendez-vous.

She falls for him on the first date.

Core concept

A fragile boundary holds briefly, then breaks as a strong feeling or impulse bursts through.

Common phrases

  • craquer pour quelqu'un

    fall for someone

  • craquer pour le chocolat

    give in to chocolate

  • craquer sous la pression

    crack under pressure

Similar words

se laisser tenter: Be unable to resist an invitation and go along with it.
céder: Yield to pressure or temptation and accept a demand.
succomber: Be overcome by a powerful temptation or influence.
flancher: Suffer a brief lapse in strength or will and stop resisting.

Definition in French

Ne plus pouvoir résister à une tentation ou à une émotion; le verbe peut aussi décrire une panne émotionnelle, par exemple « craquer nerveusement ».

Word origin

French craquer developed from a sound-symbolic word for cracking and extended from broken objects to resistance, self-control, and emotional stability.

Usage tips

  • Craquer nerveusement specifies a nervous breakdown or loss of composure, whereas bare craquer often refers to giving in to a temptation.

Other meanings

  • crackverb
  • fall for ___verb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word