# lay down

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lay-down
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to establish rules

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to state officially what the rules or laws are.

For teachers: to specify, institute, or state authoritatively a set of rules, policies, or principles.

- The company handbook lays down strict rules about using social media at work.
- The international treaty lays down the conditions under which humanitarian aid must be distributed during a conflict.

Usage: Usually takes a direct object like 'rules', 'laws', or 'guidelines'.

### 2. to surrender

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to stop fighting and give up your weapons.

For teachers: to give up, surrender, or yield weapons, typically by placing them on the ground.

- The soldiers were ordered to lay down their arms and surrender.
- After weeks of negotiation, the rebel forces finally agreed to lay down their weapons in exchange for a full pardon.

Usage: Almost always used with 'arms' or 'weapons' as the object.

### 3. to build or install

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to put something in place on the ground, like a floor or tracks.

For teachers: to install or place something permanently on a surface, such as railway tracks or flooring.

- The workers began to lay down the new tracks for the high-speed train.
- The contractor spent the morning laying down the foundation for the new extension before the rain started.

### 4. to store for later

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to store something, especially wine, so it can be used in the future.

For teachers: to store or stock items, particularly wine, for future consumption or maturation.

- He decided to lay down several cases of fine wine for his daughter's wedding.
- Serious collectors often lay down vintage ports for decades, allowing the complex flavours to develop fully in the cellar.

### 5. to sacrifice one's life

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to give up your life for a person or a cause.

For teachers: to sacrifice one's life for a specific purpose or belief.

- He was willing to lay down his life for his country.
- The monument commemorates those who were prepared to lay down their lives in the pursuit of national independence.

### 6. to euthanize

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to kill an animal in a kind way because it is very sick.

For teachers: to euthanize an animal, typically for medical or compassionate reasons.

- The vet advised us that it was time to lay down our old dog.
- The decision to lay down a horse after a severe leg fracture is often the most humane course of action available to a veterinarian.

Teaching tip: This is a softer, more professional way to talk about putting an animal to sleep.

## Examples

- He lay down the book on the table.
- The teacher laid down the rules for the exam.
- The company laid down strict guidelines for employee conduct.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'put down' (more about physical placement) and 'set down' (formal equivalent for establishing rules).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.