shake down phrasal verb ( see also ↑ shake )
1 . shake somebody ↔ down American English informal to get money from someone by using threats ⇨ shakedown :
Corrupt officials were shaking down local business owners.
2 . shake somebody/something ↔ down American English informal to search a person or place thoroughly ⇨ shakedown
3 . if a new situation or arrangement shakes down, people start to get used to it and it becomes more effective:
The restructure has shaken down, and staff are showing a new sense of purpose.