shake down

verb

1. to fall or settle or cause to fall or settle by shaking
2. slang.
   tr to extort money from, esp by blackmail or threats of violence
3. slang.
   tr to search thoroughly
4. informal.
   tr to submit (a vessel, etc) to a shakedown test
5. intr to go to bed, esp to a makeshift bed
6. intr (of a person, animal, etc) to settle down

noun

1. slang.
   a swindle or act of extortion
2. slang.
   a thorough search
3. a makeshift bed, esp of straw, blankets, etc
4. informal.
   1. a voyage to test the performance of a ship or aircraft or to familiarize the crew with their duties
   2. ( as modifier )

      a shakedown run

Example Sentences

“Prop. 65 is infamous for its ubiquitous warnings and its bounty hunters who have abused the law to shake down businesses,” Adam Regele, vice president of advocacy for CalChamber, said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

In a statement provided to Chris Haynes, the NBA reporter who first reported on the lawsuit, the Clippers said: “Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit. We honored Mr. Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full. This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.”

From Los Angeles Times

“The goal was to depict her as a promiscuous woman, deeply in debt, who was trying to shake down Mr. O’Reilly,” the Times reported.

From Slate

Donald Trump tried to shake down a group of top oil industry executives for a whopping $1 billion dollar donation, providing a glimpse into the cash-strapped nature of his 2024 campaign.

From Salon

In a statement to The Times, Barta dismissed Zucker’s lawsuit as another attempt to shake down his client for personal gain.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• check
• comb
• examine
• explore
• go through
• hunt
• hunt for
• inspect
• investigate
• look
• probe
• ransack
• scan
• scour
• scout
• scrutinize
• seek
• sift