To take strong action to control, restrict, or suppress something that was previously tolerated
To start being very strict about something, using rules or force to stop it happening
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To take strict measures to control or suppress an illegal or undesirable activity
"The government has announced plans to clamp down on tax evasion by wealthy individuals."
Police have vowed to clamp down on antisocial behaviour in the city centre.
— BBC News (common recurring headline phrasing, various dates)
A clamp grips something tightly and presses it down — 'clamping down on' something means pressing hard to stop it from moving or continuing
To start being very strict about something, using rules or force to stop it happening
Commonly used in political, journalistic, and institutional contexts. The subject is usually an authority (government, police, school) and the object is the behaviour or problem being restricted. Very common in news headlines. The image is of a clamp tightening to hold something firmly in place.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "clamp down on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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