crank out

produce something quickly and in large amounts, often without much care

C2

What does "crank sth out" mean?

To crank out something is to produce it quickly and in large quantities, often in a way that feels automatic or assembly-line-like. The phrase carries a subtle suggestion that quality may be sacrificed for speed or volume — as if the producer is working like a machine rather than an artist or craftsperson. It is widely used in informal commentary about writers, studios, tech companies, or factories that generate output at a relentless pace. Interestingly, it can occasionally carry a tone of grudging admiration — for instance, when describing a programmer who cranks out clean, working code at impressive speed — but the mechanical undertone is almost always present. You would typically encounter it in spoken language, journalism, blogs, and casual online writing, not in formal reports or academic prose.

Examples

How to use it

crank out + object

The most common pattern — a person, team, or organisation produces something rapidly, with the object following the particle.

The studio has been cranking out sequels for the past decade without any real creative ambition.

crank + object + out

With short noun phrases, the object can sit between the verb and the particle, especially in informal speech.

She cranked another article out before lunch and moved on to her next assignment.

crank + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — placing it after 'out' is not possible.

The algorithm just cranks them out automatically — no human involved at all.

object + be cranked out + (by + agent)

The passive is possible, particularly when the focus is on the sheer volume of output and the producer is either unknown or less important.

These trend pieces are cranked out by the dozen, and most readers can't tell the difference between them.

keep cranking out + object

Combining 'crank out' with 'keep' emphasises the relentless, ongoing nature of the production.

Despite the mixed reviews, the band kept cranking out albums at the same frantic pace.

Common Collocations

crank out contentcrank out reportscrank out novelscrank out songscrank out productscrank out code

Common Mistakes

Using it in formal writing

Because 'crank out' is informal and carries a slightly negative connotation, it is out of place in formal reports, academic papers, or professional business writing. Use 'produce', 'generate', or 'publish' instead in those contexts.

✗ The research team cranked out over forty peer-reviewed papers during the grant period.
✓ The research team published over forty peer-reviewed papers during the grant period.
Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'crank' and 'out', never after 'out'.

✗ The copywriter cranked out them in under an hour.
✓ The copywriter cranked them out in under an hour.
Confusing 'crank out' with 'churn out'

'Churn out' and 'crank out' overlap significantly, but 'churn out' puts stronger emphasis on monotony and poor quality, while 'crank out' foregrounds speed and volume. They are not always interchangeable in tone, so be aware of the slight difference in connotation.

Usage

This phrasal verb is informal and slightly negative — it suggests production is fast and mechanical, possibly lacking quality. It is common in American and British English alike, and is typical in spoken commentary, journalism, and online writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'crank out' always suggest the quality is bad?

Not always, but it almost always implies production is fast, mechanical, and high-volume. In most contexts this carries a mild suggestion that quality has been compromised. However, it can sometimes express grudging admiration — for example, calling a developer impressive because they crank out reliable code at speed. The negative undertone is present but not always the dominant reading.

What kinds of things can you 'crank out'?

The most natural objects are things that can be mass-produced or repeatedly generated: content, articles, reports, novels, songs, code, products, sequels, and episodes are all very common. It works best when the output is countable and produced in volume. You would not typically use 'crank out' for something made slowly and with great individual care.

Can 'crank out' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive is possible and does occur naturally, though it is less frequent than the active. It tends to appear when the producer is unknown, unimportant, or deliberately backgrounded — for example, 'These press releases are cranked out daily with no real thought behind them.' The emphasis falls on the output rather than who made it.

Is 'crank out' more American or British English?

It is used in both American and British English and is not strongly associated with either variety. You will find it in informal commentary, journalism, and online writing on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly when discussing media, publishing, and technology.

Can 'crank out' describe a machine or automated system, or only a person?

It works naturally with machines, algorithms, and automated systems as the subject — in fact, this often reinforces the mechanical, impersonal quality the phrase already implies. For example, 'The algorithm cranks out personalised recommendations every time you open the app' is completely natural.

Related Phrasal Verbs

churn sth out

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →