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crank up

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crank someone up

Fig. to motivate; to get someone started. (See also crank something up.) See if you can crank up your brother and get him going on time today. Some mornings, I can't crank myself up enough to get to work on time.

See also: crank, up

crank something up

 

1. to get a machine or a process started. (Alludes to turning the starting crank of an early automobile.) Please crank the machinery so the workers can start working. Let's crank up the drill and make a few holes here in the wall.

2. to increase the volume of an electronic device. He cranked it up a little more and CRACK, there went both speakers! Kelly cranked up his stereo until we were nearly deafened.

See also: crank, up

crank up something

also crank something up

to increase something To meet the demand for their baked goods, the plant has cranked up the speed of the production lines. The volume was cranked up so high that he had to scream in order to talk to the woman next to him.

See also: crank, up

crank up

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]

See also: crank, up

crank up

v.

1. To cause a machine to start working by or as if by turning a crank: The mechanic cranked up the antique car to show us how it worked. We waved goodbye as the pilot cranked the engines up.

2. To put something into action: The producers cranked up a massive publicity campaign before releasing the film.

3. To motivate someone: I could barely crank myself up to get to school this morning. An emcee came out before the performance and cranked up the crowd.

4. To cause something to intensify, as in volume or force: I cranked up the stereo when my favorite song came on. We cranked the motor up to 4200 rpm.

See also: crank, up