to clamp

Examples

• All

• Authorities are taking action to clamp down on drug trafficking in the community.

• To date, some governments have not taken the necessary steps to clamp down on the new generation of jihadists.

  Academic text (2005)

• You think they will clamp down on people?

  The Astronaut Farmer (2007)

• To clamp down on the criminal elements.

  The Heavy (2010)

• We must clamp down hard on any signs of unionization.

  Nine to Five (1980)

• In Florida and elsewhere, legislatures clamped down on organized voter registration drives with the stated purpose of reducing fraud.

  Academic text (2008)

• The Lebanese government clamped down on Syrian opposition in Lebanon because of heavy pressure from the Assad regime.

  Academic text (2012)

• The government decided to clamp down on illegal street racing by enforcing stricter penalties.

Synonyms

H

to hold

vsto clamp

∞ 1.9

To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than general ongoing control

L

to limit

vsto clamp

465 2.1

To control how much or how often something happens

is sudden and forceful enforcement rather than ordinary restriction or control

T

to tie

vsto clamp

350 4.2

To make someone stay in one place or situation

is sudden and forceful enforcement rather than simply binding to a condition

C

to compel

vsto clamp

247 4.8

Force someone to do something or make them feel they must

is sudden enforcement of restrictions rather than forcing someone to act

R

to restrain

vsto clamp

233 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than steady prevention of movement

I

to impose on

vsto clamp

201 5.5

To force someone to accept something or to ask too much of them

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than gradual enforced change

C

to confine to

vsto clamp

112 4.8

To keep something within set limits, for example in a room or a topic

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than simple restriction to boundaries

T

to tighten

vsto clamp

94 3.5

To make rules or limits stricter

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than gradual increase in severity

H

to hold down

vsto clamp

88 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than long term suppression

C

to crack down

vsto clamp

82 3.8

To take strong action to stop illegal or wrong behavior

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than measured long term control

C

to curb

vsto clamp

74 3.5

To limit or control something to stop it getting worse

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than gentle or gradual control measures

C

to constrain

vsto clamp

53 5.6

To limit what someone can do or how they can act

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than indirect limitation of choices

R

to rein in

vsto clamp

51 4.6

To keep someone or something under control, for example by limiting spending

is sudden and forceful enforcement rather than gradual controlled reduction

T

to tighten up

vsto clamp

• Informal

22 4.4

To make rules or limits stricter

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than planned rule strengthening

C

to check

vsto clamp

20 3.7

Stop something from growing or spreading

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than merely slowing or halting progress

S

to shackle

vsto clamp

19 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

is sudden forceful imposition of penalties rather than physical binding

C

to clamp down on

vsto clamp

14 5.3

Take strong action to stop something bad or illegal

is sudden and forceful enforcement rather than gradual restriction

P

to put a lid on

vsto clamp

• US

12 6.4

To stop something from continuing or becoming known

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than informal stopping or quiet suppression

T

to throttle

vsto clamp

10 7.5

To reduce or control how much of something is allowed

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than technical limitation of amount or access

C

to circumscribe

vsto clamp

• Formal

6 8.1

To keep something within certain limits

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than formal boundary setting

S

to stiffen

vsto clamp

2 4.8

To make a rule or law stricter

is sudden forceful enforcement rather than simply making rules tougher

Antonyms

L

to loosen

20 3.3

Make rules or limits less strict

Phrasal Verbs

C

to clamp down

20 4.2

To use strict rules and punishments to stop bad or illegal actions

C

to clamp down on

14 5.3

Take strong action to stop something bad or illegal

Compounds

C

C-clamp

2 6.5

A metal clamp shaped like a C that holds wood or metal firmly while you work

P

pipe clamp

• Specialized

1 5.1

A tool that holds a pipe firmly while you cut or thread it

B

bench clamp

1 5.3

A tool that holds a piece on a workbench firmly while you cut or drill

H

hair clamp

2.5

A clip with two comb-like sides and a spring that holds hair in place

How Forceful

to crack down

82 3.8

to ban

• Formal

537 1.4

to clamp

20 5.8

to enforce

401 4.1

to restrict

188 3.1

to limit

465 2.1

Surface Forms

Etymology