Someone described as ‘a cracking lad’ - interpretation ?

[HisMiff]

when we were first dating - DP would ask my college friends in pub what I was like - they’d say “swot” - so that’s my street cred gone out t’window but it’s TRUE ! I WAS! I worked hard from DAY ONE ! 🤣💪

i asked my DP’s schoolfriend what he was like in school and he described him as “a cracking lad”

How would you interpret this?

For context, the school he went to was rough, working class, dismal academic results and lots of violence

But if he described my DP as ‘cracking’ I would interpret that as a decent, upbeat, positive lad who was neither bullied or a bully - and not disrespectful to teachers.

Anyone agree ?

It means ' a great bloke' afaik.

Yes, it's definitely a compliment. I would have said the same.

I'd just interpret that as "a great guy" - a vague, unspecific term meaning they like the person.

Thanks for your responses !

< Agree. Cracking lad, great person etc

Pretty sure it's positive though if the person using it was awful then I'd be less sure

Yes agreed

A great kid

But if he described my DP as ‘cracking’ I would interpret that as a decent, upbeat, positive lad who was neither bullied or a bully - and not disrespectful to teachers.

In his friend's opinion he was a good guy at school.

I wouldn't infer that he wasn't bullied from that, and I doubt male friends would tell someone's girlfriend if they had been bullied at school.

Yes - fair comment

He was a great bloke.
suggests popular too, but that’s not a given.

Why?

Yes I agree it kinda suggests popular

Cracking = lovely
Lad = boy or male youth

It’s a compliment.

Whereas I'd think sexist bants, too many pints, and a dodgy geezer. Probably a bit of a recreational drug habit.

It's not a phrase anyone I know would use.

In school, a bit of a nightmare.

Where do you live? We use it I'm North Yorkshire.

You’re forgetting kebabs on the way home - multiple visible tattoos ? 🤣

🤣🤣

The phrase reminds me of how Bryn describes Gavin, in Gavin and Stacy. In other words a great fella.

Decent bloke. I think it's so superficial you couldn't glean much more than that from it - one person really liked your husband when they were at school.

I don’t get this post!

Doesn’t ‘he’s a cracking lad’ just mean that he’s a ‘cracking lad’???

I don’t think you can infer “not disrespectful to teachers” from that. Boys who play up at school are often popular.

Not sure about the bullying assumptions. Not vicious but wouldn’t have dobbed a bully in, maybe?

It’s too vague to give you much information really.

I'd use it to describe the boy in my class who is polite, friendly, always moves his very long legs out of my way when I walk past, tries hard, isn't the best but gives his best shot.

In fact, I probably have used that phrase about him.

Fair point

I can’t imagine him having been disrespectful to teachers but can’t rule it out

I think he would be the type to dob a bully in - 100%

It means a great bloke.