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Phrase(s): shake something down
Go to shake something out., Phrase(s): shake someone down
1. to blackmail someone. (Underworld.) • Fred was trying to shake Jane down, but she got the cops in on it. • The police chief was trying to shake down just about everybody in town. 2. to put pressure on someone to lend one money. • We tried to shake down Max for a few hundred, but no deal. • If you’re trying to shake me down, forget it. I have no cash.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Extort money from, as in They had quite a racket, shaking down merchants for so-called protection. [Slang; second half of 1800s] 2. Make a thorough search of, as in They shook down all the passengers, looking for drugs. [Slang; early 1900s] 3. Subject a new vehicle or machine to a tryout, as in We'll shake down the new model next week. 4. Become acclimated or accustomed, to a new place, job, or the like, as in Is this your first job? You'll soon shake down. [Mid-1800s]
American Heritage Idioms