Phrase guide

crack down

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /kɹæk ˈdaʊn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To take harsh action (against), as when enforcing a law more stringently than before.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, often

Examples

  • The authorities are trying to crack down on drunk driving during the holidays.
  • At this point they're hoping that the government will crack down and will put an end to deceptive rental offerings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

repress or suppress (something regarded as undesirable)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The police clamped down on illegal drugs

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clamp down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: restrict, restrain, trammel, limit, bound, confine, throttle

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 嚴厲打擊 /严厉打击 (yánlì dǎjī) — take harsh action against
  • Finnish: iskeä — take harsh action against
  • French: sévir — take harsh action against
  • French: frapper — take harsh action against
  • German: hart durchgreifen (bei) — take harsh action against
  • German: scharf vorgehen (gegen) — take harsh action against
  • Hebrew: נקט אמצעים (nakát emtsaím) — take harsh action against
  • Hebrew: דיכא (diké) — take harsh action against
  • Italian: usare la mano pesante — take harsh action against
  • Italian: dare un giro di vite — take harsh action against
  • Italian: opporsi — take harsh action against
  • Russian: подавля́ть (podavljátʹ) — take harsh action against
  • Russian: подави́ть (podavítʹ) — take harsh action against
  • Russian: предпринима́ть (predprinimátʹ) — take harsh action against
  • Russian: предприня́ть решительные меры (rešitelʹnyje) — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: suprimir — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: poner mano dura contra — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: sojuzgar — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: reprimir — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: doblegar — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: oprimir — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: acabar con — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: ponerse duro con — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: aplicar mano dura — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: ajustar las riendas — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: ponerse serio con — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: castigar a — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: ponerse más estricto — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: combatir — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: tomar medidas drásticas contra — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: imponer mano dura — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: aplastar — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: tomar medidas enérgicas contra — take harsh action against
  • Spanish: tomar medidas severas contra — take harsh action against
  • Swedish: tillslag — take harsh action against
  • Vietnamese: trấn áp — take harsh action against
  • Vietnamese: trừng trị — take harsh action against