lay down the law

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lay down the law (to someone) (about something)

Fig. to scold someone; to make something very clear to someone in a very stern manner. Wow, was she mad at Ed. She really laid down the law about drinking to him. She laid down the law to Ed. She laid down the law about drinking.

See also: law, lay

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Martin Poyser was not a frequenter of public houses, but he liked a friendly chat over his own home- brewed; and though it was pleasant to lay down the law to a stupid neighbour who had no notion how to make the best of his farm, it was also an agreeable variety to learn something from a clever fellow like Adam Bede. Adam Bede by Eliot, George View in context Is nothing more needed than to get a footing, by hook or by crook, in other people's houses to rule over the masters (and that, perhaps, after having been brought up in all the straitness of some seminary, and without having ever seen more of the world than may lie within twenty or thirty leagues round), to fit one to lay down the law rashly for chivalry, and pass judgment on knights-errant? Don Quixote by Cervantes, Miguel View in context Of course this is only PARTIALLY the truth; you cannot lay down the law for all. The Idiot by Dostoyevsky, Fyodor View in context			laurel lavish on law law unto oneself lawyer lay lay a finger on lay a hand on lay a trip on lay against lay alongside lay an egg lay around lay aside lay aside for lay at door lay at feet lay away lay bare lay before lay cards on the table lay claim to lay down lay down arms lay down life lay down the law lay emphasis on lay eyes on lay for lay hold of lay in lay into lay it on the line lay it on thick lay low lay low and sing small lay of the land lay off lay on lay open lay out lay out in lavender lay out on lay over lay rubber lay some sweet lines on lay the blame on lay the ghost of lay to lay to rest lay to waste			lay claim to lay claim to lay claim to Lay clerk Lay Coalition for Doctrinal Integrity Lay Community Of Saint Benedict Lay corporation Lay damages Lay days Lay days lay days / cancelling lay doggo lay down lay down lay down lay down lay down lay down lay down a plan lay down arms lay down arms lay down arms lay down arms Lay Down Drill Pipe lay down guide lines lay down life lay down limits Lay Down Misere lay down on the job lay down one’s office lay down the law Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program Lay elder lay emphasis on Lay Episcopalians for the Anglican Communion Lay Eucharistic Minister lay even money lay eyes on lay eyes on lay eyes on lay eyes on lay eyes on lay eyes on someone or something lay figure lay figure lay figures lay figures lay for lay for lay for lay for lay for lay hands on lay hands on lay hands on lay hands on lay hands on lay hands upon lay head on the block lay head on the block lay head on the block

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