Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context transitive English) To cause something to fall down by shake it, or something it is attached to. 2 (context transitive English) To shake someone so money falls from their pockets. 3 (context by extension English) To get money from someone using threats. 4 To search exhaustively. 5 To subject something to a shakedown test.
Wikipedia
Shake Down is the debut studio album by the British blues rock band Savoy Brown. It was released in 1967 (on Decca SKL 4883) under the name of Savoy Brown Blues Band and is mainly an album of covers, featuring three songs penned by blues singer Willie Dixon. In addition to Dixon, the band covers John Lee Hooker and B.B. King. (The album was never issued in the US, but was easily available as an import.)
Usage examples of "shake down".
And we can send experienced squadrons who've had months and years to train together, rather than singletons and doubletons from all over the damned place that Giscard will have to shake down, plug in, and train after they arrive.
Of course, Lillian was fully aware that my kid brother, Ensign Thomas Nycz, was on his first shake down cruise -- on board CVN 99.
The ramparts are here because the ground seems solid, and because there arent any higher cliffs that the dark ones could shake down on the walls.
There was a great din at the other end of the house (and I really mean a cacophony: shouting and thundering enough to shake down a few of the smaller books off my shelves).
And a routine mission like this would also give her an opportunity to shake down her crews and her staff.
I'll check back with you in a day or so, once this whole conference idea's had a chance to shake down a little more.