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shake down

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌʃeɪk ˈdaʊn/

shake down means: To force someone to give you money by threatening them.

verb

EXTORT MONEYC1

To force someone to give you money by threatening them.

  • The gang shook down local shopkeepers.
  • A corrupt officer shook him down for cash.
  • They were shaking down businesses for monthly payments.

How to use it: shake someone down for something (The gang shook shopkeepers down for money.)

Similar words: extort money from, blackmail

Common phrases: shake down someone, shake someone down, shake down businesses

DISLODGE BY SHAKINGB2

To make something fall by moving it, or what holds it, quickly back and forth.

  • We shook down some apples.
  • He shook the ripe fruit down from the branches.
  • Can you shake down the last few nuts?

How to use it: shake something down from something (They shook the nuts down from the tree.)

Similar words: shake loose, dislodge

Common phrases: shake down apples, shake down something, shake the fruit down

SEARCH THOROUGHLYC1

To search a person or place very carefully, looking for hidden or illegal things.

  • The guards shook down every cell.
  • Police shook the room down for drugs.
  • They shook down the prisoners before letting them into the yard.

How to use it: shake someone/something down for something (Guards shook the cells down for hidden weapons.)

Similar words: search thoroughly, search

Common phrases: shake down cells, shake down someone, shake the room down

SHAKE OUT COINSC2

To shake a person so that money falls out of their pockets.

  • The bully shook him down for loose coins.
  • They held the man upside down and shook him down.
  • His coins fell out as the attackers shook him down.

How to use it: shake someone down (The bully shook the boy down until coins fell from his pockets.)

Common phrases: shake down someone, shake someone down

TEST EQUIPMENTC2

To test new equipment under working conditions to find problems before regular use.

  • We need to shake down the equipment.
  • Engineers shook the system down during a full day of testing.
  • Has the crew shaken the new ship down yet?

How to use it: shake something down (The crew shook the new ship down before its first voyage.)

Similar words: test, try out

Common phrases: shake down equipment, shake down something

Questions about shake down

What does shake down mean?

To force someone to give you money by threatening them.

What is shake down in other languages?

Türkçe: haraç almak · Español: extorsionar · Français: extorquer de l’argent à · Deutsch: Geld erpressen · Italiano: estorcere denaro a · 日本語: 金を脅し取る

How do you pronounce shake down?

It is pronounced /ˌʃeɪk ˈdaʊn/.

How do you use shake down in a sentence?

The gang shook down local shopkeepers. A corrupt officer shook him down for cash.

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