to crack down
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to crack down
To take decisive and strict measures in order to restore order, enforce rules, or counteract an undesirable development.
Nach wiederholten Verstößen kündigte die Schulleitung an, härter durchzugreifen.
After repeated violations, the school administration announced that it would crack down harder.
'Durchgreifen' (to crack down) is a separable verb. The prefix 'durch' comes at the end in a main clause, but remains attached to the verb in a subordinate clause.
Der neue Chef greift bei Unpünktlichkeit sofort durch.
The new boss cracks down immediately on lateness.
The verb consists of 'durch' (through) and 'greifen' (to grasp). While 'greifen' means to grasp, 'durch' here reinforces the idea of decisiveness and overcoming resistance.
Die Eltern mussten bei ihrem Sohn durchgreifen, damit er seine Hausaufgaben macht.
The parents had to crack down on their son so that he would do his homework.
'Durchgreifen' (to crack down) is often used with the preposition 'gegen' + accusative to say what the strict measures are directed against.
Die Polizei will härter gegen Drogenhandel durchgreifen.
The police want to crack down harder on drug trafficking.
to push through / to assert oneself / to permeate
'durchsetzen' and 'durchgreifen' both have to do with resistance, rules, or problems. 'durchsetzen' means that a plan, demand, or one's own will succeeds in the end, even though others are against it. 'durchgreifen' means that someone acts strictly and decisively in order to create order or make rules really apply. Learners may confuse the words because rules can both be pushed through and applied when someone cracks down. As a guide: you push through an idea or opinion; a boss, the police, or a teacher cracks down when they act strictly.
Im Kurs greift die Lehrerin heute durch, weil viele ständig zu spät kommen.
In the course, the teacher is cracking down today because many people keep arriving late.
Nach langer Diskussion setzt sie ihren Vorschlag im Team durch.
After a long discussion, she pushes her proposal through in the team.