Definition of the word shake down

The phrase "shake down" originally appeared in the late 1800s in criminal underworld slang, specifically in the context of protection rackets. In these operations, a criminal organization would demand money or goods from a business in exchange for "protection" from harm. If the business refused to pay, they would face consequences, such as vandalism, theft, or violence. The process of strong-arming these businesses into paying up was called a "shake down." The exact origins of the term are unclear, but some theories suggest that it comes from the idea of vigorously shaking a person or object until the desired result is achieved, as in the image of a criminal shaking down a business until they pay up. The phrase has since come to be used more broadly to mean any coercive or extortionary act, either in criminal or non-criminal contexts.