shake down
Britishverb
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to fall or settle or cause to fall or settle by shaking
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slang (tr) to extort money from, esp by blackmail or threats of violence
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slang (tr) to search thoroughly
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informal (tr) to submit (a vessel, etc) to a shakedown test
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(intr) to go to bed, esp to a makeshift bed
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(intr) (of a person, animal, etc) to settle down
noun
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slang a swindle or act of extortion
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slang a thorough search
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a makeshift bed, esp of straw, blankets, etc
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informal
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a voyage to test the performance of a ship or aircraft or to familiarize the crew with their duties
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( as modifier )
a shakedown run
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Extort money from, as in They had quite a racket, shaking down merchants for so-called protection . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
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Make a thorough search of, as in They shook down all the passengers, looking for drugs . [ Slang early 1900s]
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Subject a new vehicle or machine to a tryout, as in We'll shake down the new model next week .
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Become acclimated or accustomed, to a new place, job, or the like, as in Is this your first job? You'll soon shake down . [Mid-1800s]
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.
Bricks & Minifigs has also sued Schneider, Mansell and others, alleging a RICO-style conspiracy to shake down the company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy’s attorney is accusing NFL veteran Michael Oher, whose story inspired ‘The Blind Side,’ of trying to shake down the couple.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2023
In 2015, developer Triad was caught up in allegations that a company executive tried to shake down a Seattle City Council candidate.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 22, 2022
The speed this is happening means we will know very quickly how this is going to shake down.
From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2021
She made the empty rooms roar with accusation and shake down a fine dust of guilt that was sucked in their nostrils as they plunged about.
From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
