crack down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to Informal (used in news, official statements, and general conversation)
Quick answer
What does “crack down” mean?
To take severe and decisive action to stop or suppress an activity, typically one considered illegal or undesirable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To take severe and decisive action to stop or suppress an activity, typically one considered illegal or undesirable.
To enforce rules or laws more strictly than before, often involving a sudden increase in punitive measures, fines, or restrictions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use. 'Clamp down' is a slightly more common near-synonym in British English, while 'crack down' is dominant in both varieties.
Connotations
Suggests a firm, potentially forceful, and uncompromising response. Carries a slightly more aggressive or urgent tone than 'clamp down'.
Frequency
High frequency in news media in both regions. Slightly more frequent in American English corpus data.
Grammar
How to Use “crack down” in a Sentence
[Subject: Authority] + crack down + on + [Object: Activity/Group]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crack down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is cracking down on littering with new £150 fines.
- After the scandal, the university cracked down hard on plagiarism.
American English
- The city is cracking down on illegal parking downtown.
- The FDA plans to crack down on misleading supplement labels.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new manager promised to crack down on unauthorised expenses.
Academic
The study examines the state's attempt to crack down on dissident publications in the 1970s.
Everyday
Our parents are cracking down on screen time this weekend.
Technical
The platform updated its algorithm to crack down on bots and fake accounts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crack down”
- Incorrect: 'They cracked the protestors.' Correct: 'They cracked down ON the protestors.' Incorrect preposition is the most frequent error.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The verb is always two words: 'crack down'. The noun form is a single compound word: 'crackdown' (e.g., 'a police crackdown').
They are very close synonyms. 'Crack down' often suggests a more sudden, forceful, or punitive beginning of action. 'Clamp down' can imply a more sustained, tight, and restrictive control. The difference is subtle and they are often interchangeable.
It depends on the speaker's perspective. The action itself is strict and punitive. It is positive if you agree with the goal (e.g., 'cracking down on corruption'). It is negative if you oppose the goal or method (e.g., 'cracking down on free speech').
No, it is inseparable. You cannot put the object between 'crack' and 'down'. You must always say 'crack down on something'.
To take severe and decisive action to stop or suppress an activity, typically one considered illegal or undesirable.
Crack down is usually formal to informal (used in news, official statements, and general conversation) in register.
Crack down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkræk ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkræk ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “come down like a ton of bricks (similar meaning, more informal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a whip CRACKing DOWN onto something to stop it. The sound of the crack represents the sudden, sharp action.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS PHYSICAL SUPPRESSION (using force from above to press down on something).
Practice
Quiz
What is the essential preposition used with 'crack down'?