| English > English |
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| crack down |
| 1. v. To take harsh action against, as when enforcing a law more stringently than before; used with on. |
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| The authorities are trying to crack down on drunk driving during the holidays. |
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| Analysis |
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| crack |
| 1. v. (intransitive) To form cracks. |
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| It's been so dry, the ground is starting to crack. |
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| 2. v. (intransitive) To break apart under pressure. |
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| When I tried to stand on the chair, it cracked. |
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| 3. v. (intransitive) To become debilitated by psychological pressure. |
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| down |
| 1. n. (especially southern England) A hill, especially a chalk hill; rolling grassland |
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| We went for a walk over the downs. |
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| The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England. |
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| 2. n. (usually plural) A field, especially one used for horse racing. |
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| 3. n. (mostly) A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep. |
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