B2idiomtimeIELTS-friendly
at the crack of dawn
USUK
very early in the morning, as the sun comes up
Often with 'get up', 'leave' or 'start'. It can also exaggerate: 'You called me at the crack of dawn!'
In context
We got up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise over Ha Long Bay.
My mother goes to the market at the crack of dawn to buy the freshest fish.
Common mistake
Incorrect: I left home at crack of dawn.
Correct: I left home at the crack of dawn.
More idioms about time
- a blast from the pastsomething or someone that suddenly reminds you of an earlier time
- a long time comingif something is a long time coming, people have waited a long time for it
- a matter of timecertain to happen, although you do not know exactly when
- a race against timea situation where you must hurry to finish before time runs out
- a sign of the timessomething that shows how society is now, often in a bad way