Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lay down the law

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.56 in modern English

Syllables: lay -down the law
IPA

26

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To promulgate law.

verb

To present the law that applies to a given case.

Dated

verb

To authoritatively or dogmatically assert what is permitted or not permitted.

Example Sentences

"Six or eight thousand years ago / They laid down the law / In Mesopotamia"
"[I]n other words, some Jews thought of Moses as the one who laid down the Law, while others saw him more as a prophet."
"He concluded this sentence with a self-important cough, as one who has laid down the law in an indisputable manner."
"Montague could picture the grim, hawk-faced old man, sitting at the head of the council board, and laying down the law to the masters of the Metropolis."
"Looks like the governor's laid down the law about the guards getting too lax, so we have to be damned careful."

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

lays down the law (present, singular) laying down the law (participle, present) laid down the law (participle, past) laid down the law (past)

Phrases

read the riot act

Frequently Paired Words

read the riot act

Questions

What does lay down the law mean?: To promulgate law.

How to pronounce lay down the law

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