crack down on — to take strict action to enforce laws or rules; to deal with something severely
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to take strict action to enforce laws or rules; to deal with something severely
Pronunciation (IPA): /kræk daʊn ɑːn/
Example Sentences
- The school decided to crack down on students who bring energy drinks, because apparently caffeine is more dangerous than homework stress.
- The mayor promised to crack down on noise pollution, starting with his own snoring.
- The police are cracking down on speeding drivers in this area.
crack down on
NOUN[/kræk daʊn ɑːn/]
to take strict action to enforce laws or rules; to deal with something severely
Police crack down on illegal street racers who tore through the city all night.
Track down the truth, never back down!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase evolved from the verb 'crack', which originally meant 'to split or break' but extended to 'to strike forcefully' or 'to take strong action'. The adverb 'down' intensifies the meaning with its sense of 'downward' or 'completely', creating the compound sense of 'to suppress or suppress entirely', with 'on' indicating the target of this action.
Breakdown
crack (to strike forcefully, take strong action) + down (downward, completely, intensifying the action) + on (against, targeting). The combination emphasizes forceful suppression or strict enforcement directed at a specific target.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The school decided to crack down on students who bring energy drinks, because apparently caffeine is more dangerous than homework stress.”
“The mayor promised to crack down on noise pollution, starting with his own snoring.”
“The police are cracking down on speeding drivers in this area.”
“The company decided to crack down on employees using social media during work hours.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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