Words / B2

KRUNCH/krʌntʃ/

Crunch is a difficult moment when a decision is needed (the crunch); also a loud crushing sound, or the verb to crush noisily: crunch time; a credit crunch. Crisis is broader (already in the dictionary); crisis vs crunch in finance is a news trap. At the crunch the board still named a figure. Mix-up: crush (previous); brunch. Do not write crunch for a relaxed optional choice.

Meaning

A difficult moment when a decision is needed (the crunch); also a loud crushing sound, or (verb) to crush noisily.

Examples

• “At the crunch the board still named a figure, the minutes said.”
• “A credit crunch featured in the economics case, which is the finance sense.”

Good to know

the crunch; crunch time; a credit crunch; crunch (verb). Broader: crisis. Trap: crush / brunch. News, business, and orals. A decisive difficult moment, or a crushing sound.

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