Street
shakedown
What does shakedown mean?
A thorough search of a cell, dorm, or person for prohibited items. Also called a search party.
"They ran a shakedown of the whole unit after the phone was found."
Origin
General American slang for a search or extortion, from the shaking-out of hidden items.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shakedown in prison?
A shakedown is a thorough search of a cell, dorm, or person for contraband or prohibited items.
Where does the word shakedown come from?
It is general American slang for a search or an act of extortion, drawn from the idea of shaking hidden items out into the open.
When do shakedowns happen?
They can be random or triggered by an event, such as running a shakedown of an entire unit after a contraband phone is discovered.
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