lay claim to

Idioms and Phrases

Assert one's right to or ownership of, as in “What claim lays she to thee?” (Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors , 3:2). [Late 1500s] Also see stake a claim .

Example Sentences

This narrative continues to weigh on First Nation tribes’ ability to lay claim to land rights in Canadian courts.

From Science Magazine

But now, for some who lay claim to being on the left, stopping fascism is not a priority.

From Salon

He’ll lay claim to the Justice Department, Howell said, and seek vengeance against those who he believes have done him wrong.

From Los Angeles Times

But the concept perpetually shapes Americans’ political preferences—and while both parties lay claim to it, both have managed to lose support when they’ve exceeded the public’s definition of what’s fair and what’s not.

From Slate

Footage of the segment has since circulated on social media, with some comparing the incident to the “spa water” controversy, in which a TikTok influencer seemingly lay claim to a wellness drink Latino users swiftly identified as agua fresca.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allege
• ask
• assert
• believe
• call for
• challenge
• collect
• declare
• defend
• hold
• insist
• need
• take