1. He always believed in giving his children the same opportunities in life so that each one would have a fair crack of the .......... .

2. This is going to be a difficult task but we'll get there in the end although it is a .......... nut to crack.

3. It's a long way we have to travel tomorrow so we must get up very early in the morning at the crack of .......... .

4. In celebration at passing his examinations he invited everyone round to crack a .......... and have a drink with him.

5. In view of the falling standards the company decided to appoint a very .......... office manager who would be able to crack the whip a bit.

6. For goodness' sake hurry up because if we don't .......... cracking soon we'll miss the bus.

7. I really think you should make an effort and apply for that job and at least .......... a crack at it.

8. Well, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the exhibition after all the praise it's received — it isn't all it's cracked .......... to be.

9. They haven't really put matters right at all because they've simply papered .......... the cracks.

10. They spent a huge amount of time and money to deal with that small problem and it's like taking a sledgehammer to crack a .......... .