clampdown

English

Alternative forms

• clamp-down

Etymology

Deverbal from clamp down.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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Noun

clampdown (plural clampdowns)

1. A sudden repressive or punitive restriction or control.

   Coordinate term: crackdown

   • 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'.

   • 2020 April 8, “Network News: COVID-19: Questions and Answers”, in Rail, page 11:

     Will there be any further restrictions on travel?
     Only if the Government imposes them, although it seems unlikely that any further clampdowns will be made on domestic rail travel in case it risks the movement of key workers and essential goods at this critical time. [...]