Crank sth up Meaning, Examples & How to Use in Everyday English

What Does “Crank sth up” Mean?

“Crank sth up” means to increase the level or intensity of something, often by turning a control or making something stronger or louder.

Introduction

The phrase “crank sth up” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of raising or increasing something. The “sth” stands for “something,” making the phrase flexible for many contexts. For example, you might crank up the volume on a radio or crank up the heat in a room. Understanding the crank sth up meaning helps learners express changes in intensity, volume, or effort naturally. This phrase is informal but widely used in everyday speech and writing, making it a useful addition to your vocabulary.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: crank something up
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To increase or raise something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Crank sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between “crank” and “up,” or after “up.”

• Pattern 1: crank + something + up (e.g., Crank the volume up.)
• Pattern 2: crank up + something (e.g., Crank up the heat.)

Both forms are correct, but the first pattern is more common in spoken English.

How to Use “Crank sth up”?

You use “crank sth up” when you want to say that you are increasing or intensifying something. This can be physical controls like volume, temperature, or speed. It can also be used metaphorically to mean increasing effort or excitement.

Examples include:

• Cranking up the music during a party.
• Cranking up the heating system in winter.
• Cranking up efforts to complete a project on time.

Examples: Crank sth up in a Sentence

• Can you crank the volume up? I want to hear the song better.
• She cranked the heat up because the room was cold.
• We need to crank up production to meet the deadline.
• Let’s crank the excitement up for the big game tonight!
• He cranked up the engine before starting the race.

Common Mistakes

• Incorrect: Can you crank up the volume it?
  Correct: Can you crank the volume up?
• Incorrect: She cranked up quickly the heat.
  Correct: She cranked the heat up quickly.
• Incorrect: I cranked up loudly the music.
  Correct: I cranked the music up loudly.

Differences / Synonyms

Similar phrasal verbs include “turn up,” “raise,” and “increase.”

• Turn up: Also means to increase volume or level, but is more formal and less casual than “crank up.”
• Raise: A more general verb for increasing something, but does not suggest a physical control like a knob or dial.
• Increase: Formal and general, not always implying a physical action.

“Crank sth up” often implies a more physical or forceful action compared to these alternatives.

Common Collocations

• Crank the volume up
• Crank the heat up
• Crank the engine up
• Crank the music up
• Crank the speed up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of crank sth up:

• Crank Sth Out

Real-life Dialogue

Alex: The music is too soft. Can you crank the volume up?

Jamie: Sure! I’ll crank it up right now.

Alex: Thanks! Also, it’s cold in here. Can you crank the heat up?

Jamie: No problem, I’ll crank the heater up.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “crank sth up”:

1. Could you _______ the volume ______? I can’t hear the TV.
2. They decided to _______ production ______ to meet demand.
3. It’s freezing! Please _______ the heat ______.

FAQs

• What does “crank sth up” mean? It means to increase or raise something, like volume or effort.
• Can I use “crank sth up” formally? It’s mostly informal but okay in casual or conversational contexts.
• Is “crank up” separable? Yes, you can put the object between “crank” and “up,” or after “up.”
• What are synonyms for “crank sth up”? Synonyms include “turn up,” “raise,” and “increase.”
• Can “crank sth up” be used metaphorically? Yes, it can mean increasing effort or excitement, not just physical controls.