crack down
To take harsh action (against), as when enforcing a law more stringently than before.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The police will crack down on drivers who speed.”
“The city decided to crack down on illegal parking after residents complained about blocked driveways.”
“Following a series of security breaches, the administration resolved to crack down on unauthorized access to the sensitive research laboratory.”
- 01
all it's cracked up to be
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
- 02
crack a crust
To make a living.
- 03
crack a fat
To get an erection of the penis.
- 04
crack a smile
To smile, especially while attempting not to.
- 05
crack of dawn
The first moment of daylight; the instant at which sunrise begins.
- 06
crack through
To penetrate
- 07
crack up
To laugh.
- 08
employ a steam engine to crack a nut
To carry out a simple task in an overcomplicated manner.
Last updated August 10, 2026