crack down on, to
crack down on (something)
To take action to control or punish someone or something more strictly or harshly, especially compared to the past. After years of leniency, the school is finally cracking down on plagiarism. The government has announced its plans to crack down on people taking advantage of the social welfare system.
See also: crack, down, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
crack down on, to
To take strong measures against someone or something, as in “The police are cracking down on drug dealers.” This colloquialism first appeared in the 1930s and caught on quickly, especially with reference to repression by authority figures.
See also: crack, down
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- crack down on (something)
- crack down
- be rough on (someone or something)
- find fault
- find fault with (someone or something)
- lower the boom (on someone or something)
- lower the boom on
- be soft on (someone)
- go light on
- go light on (someone)