cracked up to be

cracked up to be

Reputed or said to be. Typically used in the phase "isn't all it's cracked up to be." I'm so impressed with my new car—a luxury car really is all it's cracked up to be! Honestly, the movie isn't what it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it.

See also: cracked, up

cracked up to be something

 and cracked up to be; cracked up as something

alleged or understood to be something. She was cracked up to be a pretty good player. She was cracked up as a pretty good golfer. (Used with the negative.) He is not the problem solving CEO that he was cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up

cracked up to be

asserted to be (used to indicate that someone or something has been described too favourably). informal

This expression stems from the use of crack as an adjective to mean ‘pre-eminent’, a sense dating from the late 18th century.

1986 Willy Russell Shirley Valentine Our Brian suddenly realised that the part of Joseph wasn't as big as it had been cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up

cracked up to be

mod. supposed to be. This pizza isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

See also: cracked, up