clampdown

English

Alternative forms

• clamp-down

Etymology

clamp +‎ down, from the phrasal verb.

Noun

clampdown (plural clampdowns)

1. A sudden repressive or punitive restriction or control
   • 1945, Earl Browder, Political Affairs

     The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus is merely one step towards the imposition of martial law, toward a total clampdown on all forms of peaceful struggle for meaningful change.

   • 1994, Vincent Cable, The World's New Fissures: Identities in Crisis

     There is already in the EU a clamour for barriers against competing products from Eastern Europe and Asia, and for a Europe-wide clampdown on 'aliens'.

Related terms

• clamp down