Phrasal verb
crack down
Definition
phrasal verb. to start being much stricter about a rule or law to stop people from doing something wrong.
phrasal verb. To initiate or intensify the enforcement of laws, regulations, or rules. It frequently takes a prepositional complement headed by 'on' to specify the target of the enforcement.
Examples
“The police are starting to crack down on speeding drivers.”
“After several complaints about noise, the city council decided to crack down on late-night parties in residential areas.”
“The government announced a new initiative to crack down on offshore tax havens and improve fiscal transparency across the banking sector.”
Examples
simple
“The police are starting to crack down on speeding drivers.”
contextual
“After several complaints about noise, the city council decided to crack down on late-night parties in residential areas.”
complex
“The government announced a new initiative to crack down on offshore tax havens and improve fiscal transparency across the banking sector.”
Usage
This verb is often followed by the preposition 'on' before the target of the strictness.
Teaching tip
Explain that the noun form 'crackdown' is written as one word and often appears in news headlines.
Pitfall
The police will crack down the illegal parking.
The police will crack down on illegal parking.
The phrasal verb requires the preposition 'on' when followed by an object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
crack + down (+ on + object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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