to make a determined attempt to stop people doing something bad or illegal
'One or two still seemed to be functioning, but I know the official party line is to clamp down on religious observances of any sort.
I could feel myself lshivering slightly and had to clamp down hard on my teeth to keep them from chattering.
Mother didn't clamp down on him nearly hard enough if you ask me...' Jo inspected her beer bottle.
The government plans to clamp down on illegal militant groups.
clamps down
clamping down
clamped down
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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