crack down

Meaning

1. Oxford100% of films

   to try harder to prevent an illegal activity and deal more severely with those who are caught doing it

   I've gotta crack down. I gotta sign it out?

In the movies · 5

• Since McCluskey's killing, the police have cracked down on our operations.The Godfather1972
• 'Hey've cracked down hard since you left. More guards, more patrols.Toy Story 32010
• THE INTERNET HAS CREATED ALL THESE TOOLS FOR CRACKING DOWN AND SPYING AND, YOU KNOW, CONTROLLING WHAT WE SAY.The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz2014
• Cops were given their own discretion to crack down on crime.Spiral2021
• I've gotta crack down. I gotta sign it out?A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote2020
• There's a massive crack about halfway down.Werewolf by Night2022
• A good whack with the mallet. Crack it down. Whack. Bang.Into the Wild2007
• I CAN SEE WHY THE GOVERNMENT'S CRACKING DOWN ON THE IDEA OF EXPERIENCING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.Zeitgeist: Addendum2008

Learn it in full scenes

• The Godfather1972
  • Bonasera Asks for Justice
  • Woltz Refuses Johnny the Role
  • Vito Refuses Sollozzo's Deal

From the same entry

• get cracking
• not all, everything, cracked up to be
• crack the whip
• a hard nut
• use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
• crack on
• crack up
• crack up
• at the crack of dawn
• a fair crack of the whip