lay down
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle down
Meanings
Put something carefully onto a flat surface
Why “down”? Movement goes from high to low.
“Lay the baby down gently.”
“She laid the book down on the desk.”
State a rule or principle clearly
Why “down”? Information is fixed in words, on paper or in a recording.
“He laid down strict rules.”
“The school laid down clear rules.”
Sacrifice or give up something, especially one's life
Why “down”? Something is pressed down and kept from rising again.
“He laid down his life for his country.”
“Many nurses laid down their lives during the war.”
Don't confuse with
Lay down means put something carefully onto a flat surface. Lay up means force someone to stay in bed because of illness or injury.
Test yourself
“Lay the baby down gently.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
lay up
A contrast learners often mix up
Force someone to stay in bed because of illness or injury
bear down
Same down pattern: downward
Move quickly and threateningly toward someone
beat down
Same down pattern: downward
(of sun or rain) fall strongly and steadily
bend down
Same down pattern: downward
Lean the upper body downward
blow down
Same down pattern: downward
Cause something to fall by blowing
bog down
Same down pattern: pressure
Slow or get stuck
break down
Same down pattern: downward
(of a vehicle or machine) stop working; Lose emotional control and start crying; Separate something into smaller parts to understand it; (of negotiations or relationships) fail or end; Force a door open by hitting it; Decompose into simpler chemical substances
bring down
Same down pattern: downward
Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed
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