lay down

US /leɪ daʊn/

UK /leɪ daʊn/

1.

to put something down on a surface, especially gently or carefully

:

•

Please lay down your tools before you leave.

•

She carefully laid down the baby in the crib.

:

put down place set down deposit

2.

to establish a rule, principle, or plan

:

•

The committee will lay down new guidelines for safety.

•

He had to lay down the law to his unruly children.

:

establish stipulate prescribe formulate

:

lay down the law lay lay on lay by lay into lay down your life lay out