crunch (redirected from crunching)

crunch someone or something up

to break someone or something up into pieces. That machine will crunch you up. Stay away from it! A number of blows with the hammer crunched up the rocks into pebbles. Try to crunch the larger chunks up.

See also: up

crunch something down

to press or crush something down, breaking it with a crunching noise. Sally crunched the flower pot down, breaking it. She crunched down the fragile glass in the box accidentally.

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if/when it comes to the crunch

if you talk about what someone will do if it comes to the crunch, you mean what they will do if a situation becomes serious or they have to make an important decision If it comes to the crunch, will she play well enough to win? Don't worry. Ben will be right there with us when it comes to the crunch.

See also: come, if

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when it comes to the crunch also when the crunch comes

when a situation becomes serious or an important decision has to be made You know that when it comes to the crunch, she will do what needs to be done.

Usage notes: also used in the form at crunch time with the same meaning: She's the kind of player who's going to score at crunch time.

See also: come