shake down

verb

shook down; shaken down; shaking down; shakes down

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take up temporary quarters

b

: to occupy an improvised or makeshift bed

2

a

: to become accustomed especially to new surroundings or duties

b

: to settle down

transitive verb

1

: to obtain money from in a deceitful, contemptible, or illegal manner

racketeers shaking down store owners for protection

2

: to make a thorough search of

3

: to bring about a reduction of

4

: to give a shakedown test to

shook down the vessel before its maiden voyage

Synonyms of shake down

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• sting
• hustle
• stick
• beat
• screw
• rip off
• do
• bleed

Examples of shake down in a Sentence

the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob

Recent Examples on the Web

Federal prosecutors, however, are alleging a complex plot to not only shake down Edens but also to hide evidence from the FBI. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026

This brainstorm is aimed at shaking down travel booking platforms. —Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026

The commission shakes down property owners by, say, requiring them to remove structures or give up development rights. —Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026

Will the agency adopt the model of personal injury attorneys and serial plaintiffs who have abused the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act to shake down unsuspecting business owners for purely technical violations of the law? —Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for shake down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

shakedown

noun

shake·​down ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 

: a testing under operating conditions of something new (as a ship) for possible faults or for the operators to become more familiar with it

a shakedown cruise