Formed from the verb phrase crack down, with the noun recorded from 1935. The phrase is older and combines crack, in a forceful figurative sense, with down.
Formed from the verb phrase crack down, with the noun recorded from 1935. The phrase is older and combines crack, in a forceful figurative sense, with down.
What does crackdown mean?
Crackdown means a strict official or organized effort to stop, punish, or control unwanted activity.
Is crackdown one word or two?
The noun is one word, crackdown. The verb phrase is two words, crack down.
What preposition follows crackdown?
The usual form is crackdown on, as in a crackdown on crime or a crackdown on late payments.
Can crackdown be used outside government or policing?
Yes. A company, school, platform, or organization can have a crackdown on behavior it wants to stop.
Is crackdown always negative?
Not always. Crackdown describes strong action, and the attitude depends on whether the action seems necessary, excessive, or repressive.