crack down
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To start punishing or stopping bad behaviour more strongly.
Literal meaning: To come down hard (crack down) — the force of a crack suggesting sudden, firm impact.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To take strict, forceful measures to stop illegal or unacceptable behaviour.
"The government announced it would crack down on tax evasion with new legislation."
"We will crack down on the gangs and the guns."
— Tony Blair, Labour Party Conference speech, 1995
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common in news and political language. Usually followed by 'on'. The noun 'crackdown' is also extremely common. Can refer to governments, police, schools, or any authority.
Commonly used with
crime corruption drugs protesters speeding fraud
Forms
Base
crack down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cracks down
he/she/it
Past simple
cracked down
yesterday
Past participle
cracked down
have + pp
-ing form
cracking down
continuous
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