- clamp down
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intransitive verb
Date: 1938
to impose restrictions ; crack down <the police are clamping down on speeders>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
clamp down
Look at other dictionaries:
clamp|down — clamp down or clamp|down «KLAMP DOWN», noun. U.S. Informal. a strict restriction or prohibition of something, as of gambling … Useful english dictionary
clamp-down — or clamp|down «KLAMP DOWN», noun. U.S. Informal. a strict restriction or prohibition of something, as of gambling … Useful english dictionary
clamp down on — (something) to act to stop or limit something. Police here have finally clamped down on speeding … New idioms dictionary
clamp down on — SUPPRESS, prevent, stop, put a stop/end to, stamp out; crack down on, limit, restrict, control, keep in check. → clamp * * * clamp down on To suppress, or suppress the activities of, firmly (clampˈdown noun) • • • Main Entry: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
clamp down — verb repress or suppress (something regarded as undesirable) The police clamped down on illegal drugs • Syn: ↑crack down • Derivationally related forms: ↑crackdown (for: ↑crack down), ↑clampdown … Useful english dictionary
clamp down — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms clamp down : present tense I/you/we/they clamp down he/she/it clamps down present participle clamping down past tense clamped down past participle clamped down to make a determined attempt to stop people… … English dictionary
clamp down — v. (D; intr.) to clamp down on (to clamp down on pickpockets) * * * [ klæmp daʊn] (D; intr.) to clamp down on (to clamp down on pickpockets) … Combinatory dictionary
clamp down — PHRASAL VERB To clamp down on people or activities means to take strong official action to stop or control them. [JOURNALISM] [V P on n] If the government clamps down on the movement, that will only serve to strengthen it in the long run... [V P] … English dictionary
clamp·down — /ˈklæmpˌdaʊn/ noun, pl downs [count] : an increased effort to make sure that people obey laws and rules usually singular a security clampdown in the city s subway system usually + on a clampdown on drug trafficking a clampdown … Useful english dictionary
clamp down on — they promised to clamp down on the drug trafficking in this neighborhood Syn: suppress, prevent, stop, put a stop/end to, stamp out; crack down on, limit, restrict, control, keep in check … Thesaurus of popular words
clamp down on — verb To take measures to stop something; to put an end to. The government aims to clamp down on underage drinking … Wiktionary
