Crank Up Meaning

(idiomatic) To increase, as the volume, power or energy of something.

Example: To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
  Let's crank up the old motorcycle and take it for a spin.
  He cranked up the volume to 11.
2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”[1], BBC:
  And it was not until Ryan Shawcross's towering header was cleared off the line by Danny Murphy on the stroke of half-time that Stoke started to crank up the pressure and suggest they were capable of getting back into the match.