clamp down on — take strict action against
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
to start dealing with something much more strictly, especially to stop bad or illegal behavior.
Say it like a native
Textbook The authorities intend to implement stringent enforcement measures against speeding.
Native Police are clamping down on speeding.
'Implement stringent enforcement measures against' is press-release-formal; 'clamp down on' is natural.
Pattern: clamp down on + noun/gerund
In use
- The school decided to clamp down on cheating after several students were caught.law
- In my opinion, the government should clamp down on companies that pollute the environment to protect public health.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ They clamped down speeding.
✓ They clamped down on speeding.
'Clamp down ON something'.
Common collocations
clamp down on— on, crime, speeding, hard
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'crack down on', but both mean to take strong action to stop something.