Meaning & use
lay down
Last updated
Meanings
phrasephrasal verb
To place something on a surface, especially flat.
Grammar: Takes an object, which can go before or after down: lay the baby down.
Patterns
- lay something down
- lay something down on something
She laid the sleeping baby down in the crib.
Lay the blanket down on the grass.
He laid down his tools and went home.
phrasephrasal verbformal
To state a rule or principle officially and firmly.
Grammar: Often passive or with a rule: the law lays down limits.
Patterns
- lay down rules
- lay down the law
- lay down that something
The contract lays down strict deadlines.
The school laid down new rules for phones.
The coach laid down the law about being late.
phrasephrasal verbliterary
To give up or stop using something such as weapons or a job.
Grammar: The object is usually weapons or your life.
Patterns
- lay down arms
- lay down your life
The soldiers laid down their weapons.
He was ready to lay down his life for his friends.
phrasephrasal verbspecialist
To store something, especially wine, for the future.
Grammar: Often about wine or provisions.
Patterns
- lay down something
They laid down a case of wine for their daughter's wedding.
The farm lays down hay for winter.
Word forms
| third person singular | lays down |
|---|---|
| past tense | laid down |
| past participle | laid down |
| -ing form | laying down |
Common combinations
- lay down the law
- My mother laid down the law about homework.
- lay down rules
- The committee laid down rules for the contest.
- lay down arms
- The rebels agreed to lay down their arms.
- lay down your life
- Some firefighters lay down their lives to save others.
- lay down a track
- The band laid down a new track in the studio.
Synonyms and how they differ
- establish
- Establish suggests setting something up to last, and is less commanding than lay down.
- stipulate
- Stipulate is formal and used for conditions in agreements.
- put down
- Put down is the everyday word for placing things, and lay down is slightly more careful.
- surrender
- Surrender means giving up in defeat, whereas lay down arms can also be a peaceful choice.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: lay down or lie down?
lay down vs lie down
Lie down means to rest yourself flat and takes no object, whereas lay down needs something to put down.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct form?
Choose one answer.
Lay is transitive and its past tense is laid; lay is the past of lie, and lied is the past of lie meaning to tell a falsehood.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lay down”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.