shakedown
Money through threats
A shakedown is an act of extortion—demanding money through threats or intimidation: The protection racket was just a shakedown.
It also means a thorough search, especially of a person or cell by police or guards.
As an adjective, shakedown describes a trial run meant to test new equipment or reveal problems: a shakedown cruise.
Preliminary test attempt
- dry runPractice session beforehand
- maiden voyageShip's initial journey
- debuggingError removal from programs
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
stress test · sea trial · commissioning · checkout · calibration · break-in · validation · simulation
Coercion through damaging threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- protectionGuarding against harm
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
payoff · squeeze · hush money · mob · gangster · mafia · bribery · tribute
Ship's initial journey
- sea trialShip performance test voyage
- voyageJourney by sea
- nauticalOf ships and sailing
- shipshapeOrderly and neat
commissioning · test run · naval · sailing · crew training · vessel · offshore · maritime
Search by touch
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- confiscateSeize by authority
- checkpointInspection station on route
security · sweep · raid · bust · customs · border patrol · screening · body search
trial run
Preliminary test attempt
- dry runPractice session beforehand
- maiden voyageShip's initial journey
- debuggingError removal from programs
beta · stress test · sea trial · commissioning · checkout · calibration · break-in · validation · simulation · pilot
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- protectionGuarding against harm
kickback · payoff · squeeze · hush money · mob · gangster · mafia · bribery · tribute · racket
maiden voyage
Ship's initial journey
shipshape · commissioning · test run · naval · sailing · crew training · vessel · offshore · maritime · passage
frisk
Search by touch
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- confiscateSeize by authority
checkpoint · security · sweep · raid · bust · customs · border patrol · screening · body search · strip search
- compound wordsbookmark, sunlight, breakup, snowflake, checkout
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- prisonsprison, inmates, cells, prisons, prisoner
- racingrace, racing, race track, racetrack, lap
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
shakedowngift
Item given freely
charity · gratuity · philanthropy · tip · alms