shakeout

shakeout

1. A reduction of directly competing people, businesses, products, etc., in a given field, market, or industry. Hundreds of business sprang up during the massive dotcom boom at the start of the century, and the shakeout caused by the bust a few years later caused just as many to close up shop. Revelations of corruption and abuse has led to a huge shakeout among the top producers and actors in the film industry.
2. A sudden selling-off of financial investments, often at a loss, due to uncertainty around or a loss of faith in a particular industry or security. Despite the continuing growth of the economy, many investment analysts are warning that a major shakeout could be on the horizon. The CEO promised that the recent shakeout was nothing more than the stock prices correcting after experiencing such a huge surge over the last 12 months.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shakeout

n. an event that eliminates the weak or unproductive elements from a system. After a shakeout that lasted a month, we went into full production.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • spring up
  • (Someone or something) called, they want their (something) back!
  • tomorrow
  • be greater/more than the sum of its parts
  • a swan song
  • bushel
  • one rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) barrel
  • a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
References in periodicals archive
Information and planning comes from ShakeOut.org, which is managed by the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California, with funding from the National Science Foundation, United States Geological Survey and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
ShakeOut an Opportunity to Sell Earthquake Policies in California and Beyond
"The Great California ShakeOut is such an important opportunity for us all to practice what to do the instant the ground starts to shake -- drop, cover and hold on," said Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of the California Earthquake Authority.
Millions to participate in world's largest earthquake drill Oct. 19
Toward the end of 2000 the shakeout claimed Toysmart.com, Garden.com and Pets.com.
High-Flying Pure-Play E-tailers Experience Reversal of Fortune
Steve McDorman, president and chief executive of Sterling Air & Water indicated that the shakeout could come even sooner.
Water firms: sink or innovate
We will expect many happenings in this year's shakeout drill,' Baloran said.
Hospitals to participate in CDRRMO emergency drills
Barrel Horse[TM] Shakeouts: The Barrel Horse Sand and Casting Processor is a proven one-step solution to casting damage and sand mix problems.
Carrier vibrating equipment, Inc
Looking ahead, just how quickly or how thoroughly the shakeout will proceed is anyone's guess.
Consolidation buffets BI market
The shakeout will impact large and small funds alike, but Europe's hedge fund market will likely bounce back faster, owing to its late entry into the fund startup stage, says Van.
More turnover at Soros reflects shakeout. (Departures)
After several years of an extremely volatile marketplace shakeout (and the shakeout may not be over), the vendors that remain today are taking a wiser approach to both the selling process and, more importantly, to the actual implementations.
Have enterprise vendors come of age? The new generation of enterprise solutions is learning from past mistakes. (Technology)
The recent decline of many of the dot.com companies in the inevitable technology shakeout that occurred after the late-90s boom in this area has created a unique opportunity for many corporate real estate executives to quickly get up to speed in the data back-up and disaster recovery arena.
Data concerns taking priority
But the shakeout that has severely affected the integrated side of the steel industry has also caused casualties in the EAF sector.
In the meantime. (Welcome ...)
General Kinematics has introduced its Vibra-Claim series of vibratory shakeout/sand attrition mills, which use a solid shakeout deck to remove sand molds from castings.
Shakeout and reclamation