Crack my eyes open

[magnolia_me]

Hello.
I was wondering, in American English it is correct to say "I cracked my eyes open?"
Thank you for your time.

 

[Barb_D]

It depends on the context.

If I wake up with a nasty hangover and I can hear someone nearby, I may crack my eyes open (to avoid letting in too much light) to see who it is.

How did you think you might use it?

 

[magnolia_me]

Sort of the same. When i wrote this, I had in mind a person who`s in shock and who hasn`t been getting enough sleep. I guess what I had in mind was "I opened my eyes slowly", but wanted to rephrase it, to make it sound more eloquent...
Also, is "I winced back" (or backwards) the same as "I drew back"? (as in surprise, or not wanting to be touched).

 

[Barb_D]

A wince, for me, is a quick, small, involuntary movement. It could be from physical pain, emotional empathy, or just thinking something may hit you.

You can draw back slowly, deliberately, intentionally, and over a greater distance than I associate with wincing.