ALL meanings of crack down
crack down
C c - phrasal verb crack down If people in authority crack down on a group of people, they become stricter in making the group obey rules or laws. 3
- verb crack down to take severe measures (against); become stricter (with) 3
- noun crack down severe or repressive measures 3
- verb without object crack down to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured: The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable. 1
- verb without object crack down to break with a sudden, sharp sound: The branch cracked under the weight of the snow. 1
- verb without object crack down to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap: The whip cracked. 1
- verb without object crack down (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, especially into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion. 1
- verb without object crack down to fail; give way: His confidence cracked under the strain. 1
- verb without object crack down to succumb or break down, especially under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like: They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked. 1
- verb without object crack down Chemistry. to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat. 1
- verb without object crack down Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast. 1
- verb without object crack down Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip. 1
- verb with object crack down to cause to make a sudden sharp sound: The driver cracked the whip. 1
- verb with object crack down to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures. 1
- verb with object crack down to break with a sudden, sharp sound: to crack walnuts. 1
- verb with object crack down to strike and thereby make a sharp noise: The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw. 1
- verb with object crack down to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply. 1
- verb with object crack down to utter or tell: to crack jokes. 1
- verb with object crack down to cause to make a cracking sound: to crack one's knuckles. 1
- verb with object crack down to damage, weaken, etc.: The new evidence against him cracked his composure. 1
- verb with object crack down to make mentally unsound. 1
- verb with object crack down to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable. 1
- verb with object crack down to solve; decipher: to crack a murder case. 1
- verb with object crack down Informal. to break into (a safe, vault, etc.). 1
- verb with object crack down Chemistry. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum. 1
- verb with object crack down Informal. to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.). 1
- noun crack down a break without complete separation of parts; fissure. 1
- intransitivephrasal verb crack down enforce laws 1
- noun crack down a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost. 1
- noun crack down a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking. 1
- noun crack down the snap of or as of a whip. 1
- noun crack down a resounding blow: He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell. 1
- noun crack down Informal. a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack. 1
- noun crack down a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice. 1
- noun crack down Informal. opportunity; chance; try: Give him first crack at the new job. 1
- noun crack down a flaw or defect. 1
- noun crack down Also called rock. Slang. pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting. 1
- noun crack down Masonry. check1 (def 41). 1
- noun crack down a mental defect or deficiency. 1
- noun crack down a shot, as with a rifle: At the first crack, the deer fell. 1
- noun crack down a moment; instant: He was on his feet again in a crack. 1
- noun crack down Slang. a burglary, especially an instance of housebreaking. 1
- noun crack down Chiefly British. a person or thing that excels in some respect. 1
- noun crack down Slang: Vulgar. the vulva. 1
- noun crack down Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat. 1
- noun crack down British Dialect. boasting; braggadocio. 1
- noun crack down Archaic. a burglar. 1
- adjective crack down first-rate; excellent: a crack shot. 1
- adverb crack down with a cracking sound. 1
- idioms crack down crack a book, Informal. to open a book in order to study or read: He hardly ever cracked a book. 1