shake down

Plaintiffs took this as an invitation to shake down U.S. companies for abetting alleged human-rights violations in foreign countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

So how will the "usual suspects", the "softies", the "newbies" and the "toadies" shake down?

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2025

In a statement to The Times, Barta dismissed Zucker’s lawsuit as another attempt to shake down his client for personal gain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 8, 2024

There were riddles of existence that, clearly, he was only beginning to shake down.

From New York Times ● Jul. 25, 2022

Forty of them played together shake one’s reason, shake the towers of Erhenrang, shake down a last spatter of rain from the windy clouds.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin