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Synonyms

clamp down on

Idioms  
  1. Also, put the clamps on. Become stricter or more repressive; put a stop to. For example, The company was clamping down on expenses like business lunches, or It's time we put the clamps on polluters. [Mid-1900s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This season, Premier League referees have been instructed to clamp down on grappling at corners, something that became a big talking point last term.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

He vowed to crack down on "price-gouging", saying regulators have the the power to "clamp down on it if it happens".

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

It took state insurance commissioners four years to clamp down on one kind of structured debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Starting in 2018, successive governments in Malaysia threatened to clamp down on Lynas over environmental concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Reaching over Caesar’s head, I clamp down on his left shoulder and on his right arm.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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