My Word of The Day, Clamp up

Clamp down

*/klæmp daʊn/ *phrasal verb *(clamp down on sth)

What does it mean?

• to make a determined attempt to stop people from doing something bad or illegal

Example:

Indian security officials were concerned that BlackBerry's encrypted data could be used to coordinate acts against the state. They have clamped down on mobile phone operators in the wake of 2008 attacks that killed 166 people in Mumbai. The UAE, home to Gulf financial hub Dubai, said it would halt BlackBerry services until an "acceptable solution" was developed and applied.
---Yahoo News, ''BlackBerry users in UAE, Saudi may have services cut''

Etymology:

• Origin: 1350–1400; ME (n.) < MD clampe clamp, cleat; c. MLG klampe

Synonyms

• forbid , decline , prohibit , ban , clinch, clench, secure.

Antonyms

• Allow, admit, accept, permit

Posted in: English, MWOTD, Vocabulary