Idiom idiom
clamp down on
Meaning
To take measures to stop (something); to put an end to (something); to exert tighter control of (something); to treat (someone or something) more harshly.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“The school will clamp down on students who arrive late.”
“The city decided to clamp down on illegal parking by increasing fines for all drivers.”
“In an effort to restore order, the new administration began to clamp down on unauthorized protests throughout the capital city.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026