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'.
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