What’s the “Crack of Dawn”?

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“The crack of dawn” is an idiom used to describe an early and unreasonable time to wake up. It can imply commitment or futility, but is often done for practical reasons such as avoiding crowds or having free time later in the day.

“The crack of dawn” is an idiomatic expression that is used to describe what many people consider a completely unreasonable time in the morning to get up and start the day. When using this type of English proverb, the purpose is usually to convey the idea that only something that is out of the ordinary or can only be successfully accomplished at this unusual time would justify this early rise. Sometimes, the crack of dawn reference helps exemplify the level of responsibility and commitment expressed by a person who gets up early to handle essential tasks.

For many, the crack of dawn is seen as a less-than-desirable early morning time to wake up and start engaging in any type of activity. Typically, there is a feeling that while getting up at such an hour is not desirable, there is an expectation that one will get some sort of benefit from the activity. For example, an individual may choose to get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to do their weekly shopping just as stores are open, and avoid having to shop later in the day when there are more customers crowding of the corridors. Similarly, an exercise enthusiast may get up at the crack of dawn to jog or exercise during a time when there aren’t many other joggers in the park or people at the health club.

While getting up at the crack of dawn is sometimes done with the idea of ​​gaining some benefit, other situations may use the term in a way that implies that getting up early was completely unnecessary and unproductive. While some people like to hit the road at the crack of dawn when starting a holiday, others find this to be unproductive, as the idea of ​​a holiday is to relax and not be in a rush. Other situations may also imply that getting up at the crack of dawn is ultimately futile if the purpose of doing so is to manage tasks that could just as comfortably be done later in the day.

Whether used as a way of denoting commitment and sacrifice or to describe a situation where getting up early accomplishes nothing of value, most people are aware of what is meant by the phrase crack of dawn. For many people, getting up early is a necessity that must be observed regularly in order to maintain a job with unusual hours, or for those who want to perform certain tasks and have free time during the day for other activities. Others get up so early only for out-of-the-ordinary events, like boarding a plane for a trip.




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