How do you use "Shakedown" in a sentence?

The mob ran a protection shakedown. The guards did a shakedown of the cells. It's just a shakedown cruise—testing the new ship.

Shakedown

Q: What does "Shakedown" mean?

Extortion; a thorough search; or an initial test. Multiple meanings: 1) Extorting money through intimidation, 2) A thorough search of a person or place, 3) A trial run to test something new.

Slang Term AmericanBritish ★★★☆☆ Moderate Casual

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Meaning: Extortion; a thorough search; or an initial test.

敲诈勒索；彻底搜查；或初步测试。

Extorsión; registro exhaustivo; o prueba inicial.

ゆすり、徹底的な捜索、または初期テスト。

갈취, 철저한 수색, 또는 초기 시험 운행.

Multiple meanings: 1) Extorting money through intimidation, 2) A thorough search of a person or place, 3) A trial run to test something new.

有多重含义：1）通过恐吓勒索钱财；2）对人或场所进行彻底搜查；3）测试新事物的试运行。

Múltiples significados: 1) Extorsionar dinero mediante intimidación, 2) Un registro exhaustivo de una persona o lugar, 3) Una prueba inicial para probar algo nuevo.

複数の意味がある：1) 脅迫による金銭の強要、2) 人や場所の徹底的な捜索、3) 新しいものをテストする試運転。

여러 의미가 있다: 1) 위협을 통해 돈을 갈취하는 것, 2) 사람이나 장소를 철저히 수색하는 것, 3) 새로운 것을 테스트하는 시운전.

Literal meaning: Shaking someone down for money/items

Examples

The mob ran a protection shakedown.
黑帮搞保护费敲诈
La mafia hacía chantajes de protección
マフィアがみかじめ料のゆすりをやっていた
조직폭력배가 보호세 갈취를 하고 있었다.
The guards did a shakedown of the cells.
狱警对牢房进行了彻底搜查
Los guardias hicieron un registro de las celdas
看守が房の一斉捜索を行った
교도관들이 감방을 일제 수색했다.
It's just a shakedown cruise—testing the new ship.
这只是试航——测试新船
Es solo un viaje de prueba, probando el nuevo barco
新しい船をテストする試運転航海だ
새 배를 시험하는 시운전 항해일 뿐이야.

Pronunciation

/ˈʃeɪkdaʊn/

Usage Guide

Context: extortion, search, testing

Tone: criminal or official

✓ Do Say

A shakedown operation.
敲诈行动
Una operación de extorsión
ゆすり作戦
갈취 작전.
Ran a shakedown.
进行敲诈
Hicieron un chantaje
ゆすりを行った
수색을 실시했다.
Shakedown search.
彻底搜查
Registro exhaustivo
一斉捜索
일제 수색.

✗ Don't Say

Extortion
Extortion（勒索）
Extortion（Extorsión）
Extortion（恐喝）
갈취
Thorough search
Thorough search（彻底搜索）
Thorough search（Registro exhaustivo）
Thorough search（徹底捜索）
철저한 수색

Common Mistakes

Three distinct meanings
'Shakedown cruise' is a test voyage

Origin & History

From literally shaking someone to make items fall from their pockets.

Etymology: American slang, 19th century

First recorded: 1870s

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Gangster films; Police procedurals; Star Trek (shakedown cruise)

Regional notes: American origin, used in British English for all meanings.

Variations

ShakedownShake downShakedown cruise