lay down the law

Idioms and Phrases

Assert something positively and often arrogantly, state something dogmatically. For example, Dad laid down the law about locking up the house . This colloquial expression, first recorded in 1762, uses lay down in the sense of def. 2.

Example Sentences

“In his judgments, he would lay down the law brilliantly which could be used as a precedent for future cases. But whenever the state was heavily invested in any issue, he failed to hold power to account, so the state got away with what they had set out of achieve.”

From BBC

“I reacted badly. That’s an understatement. My feelings were hurt, I see that. I tried to lay down the law—like she was a child—because I was afraid to lose her. And in doing that, I really did lose her.”

From Literature

Will America welcome a multipolar world in which unchecked dictatorships once again lay down the law?

From Los Angeles Times

Beckham admits his wife is “pretty strict” and he finds it hard to lay down the law.

From Seattle Times

"I mean, there's no way around it with kids. I don't like to have to lay down the law and stuff like that. But you just have no choice," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• appoint
• charge
• demand
• enforce
• establish
• foist
• force
• inflict
• institute
• introduce
• lay down
• levy
• order
• place
• promulgate
• put
• require