clamp down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in news, politics, and organizational contexts.
Quick answer
What does “clamp down” mean?
To become stricter in enforcing rules or laws.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To become stricter in enforcing rules or laws; to impose severe restrictions or control.
To take strong, sudden action to stop or suppress an activity, often by an authority. Can also imply tightening control in a general sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Slight preference in UK English for 'clampdown' as a solid noun (e.g., 'a police clampdown').
Connotations
Equally negative/connoting authoritarianism in both varieties when applied to governments. Can be positive when applied to safety or security (e.g., 'clamp down on drunk driving').
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, frequent in political and news discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “clamp down” in a Sentence
[Authority] + clamp down + on + [Activity/Group]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clamp down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is clamping down on littering with hefty fines.
- After the scandal, the board clamped down hard.
American English
- The city is clamping down on illegal parking.
- The FDA clamped down on misleading food labels.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (No adjectival use directly; use 'clampdown' as attributive noun: 'clampdown measures')
American English
- N/A (No adjectival use directly; use 'clampdown' as attributive noun: 'a clampdown policy')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new CEO clamped down on unnecessary travel expenses."
Academic
"The regime clamped down on dissenting scholarly publications."
Everyday
"My parents are clamping down on my screen time."
Technical
"The software update clamped down on security vulnerabilities."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clamp down”
- Using without 'on' (e.g., *'The government clamped down protests'*). Confusing with 'clamp' alone (to fasten). Using in non-authoritative contexts (e.g., *'I clamped down my feelings'*).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a verb, it's two words: 'clamp down'. As a noun, it is often written as one word: 'a clampdown'.
Almost always 'on' (clamp down on something).
They are largely synonymous. 'Crack down' might suggest a slightly more aggressive or punitive action, while 'clamp down' emphasizes the imposition of control. They are often interchangeable.
Yes, when the target is widely seen as negative or dangerous. E.g., 'clamp down on corruption' or 'clamp down on hate speech' is generally viewed positively.
To become stricter in enforcing rules or laws.
Clamp down is usually neutral to formal; common in news, politics, and organizational contexts. in register.
Clamp down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklæmp ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklæmp ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come down hard (on)”
- “lay down the law”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large metal CLAMP pressing DOWN on something to stop it moving. The authority is the clamp; the activity is the thing being squeezed.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PRESSING/CONSTRICTING FORCE; CONTROL IS PHYSICAL SUPPRESSION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'clamp down' LEAST appropriate?