lay something down—
1. (of laws, conditions, etc.) state or declare firmly:
- We had to lay down rules for the behavior of the members.
2. (of money) bet on smth.:
- How much are you prepared to lay down on that horse?
3. start to build smth.:
- We shall have to lay down a new floor in the upstairs rooms.
4. (also: lay something by) store smth. for the future:
- When his grandson was born, the lord laid down a case of best wine for the boy’s 21st birthday.
5. mark smth. on a plan or map:
- He now laid down clearly the island groups of the North Pacific.
put something down—
1. (of a plane) cause to land:
- The pilot was able to put the damaged plane down safely in the field.
2. (coll., also: put something away) eat a lot of food:
- You’d be surprised at the amount that boy can put down in a single day.
3. cease doing smth. such as work:
- Put down whatever you are doing and join the party.
4. record smth. in writing:
- Make sure that you put down every word she says.
5. (of money) give in part payment:
- You can buy this house by putting 10 percent down and paying the rest over twenty-five years.
6. = lay something down 4:
- I have put down over 100 eggs this winter, so as to have plenty at the cheap price.
7. (UK) kill an animal out of mercy:
- The dear old dog got so ill that it was kinder to have him put down.
8. suppress or stop smth.:
- The police are attempting to put down violent crime in the city.
9. (coll.) express disapproval or a poor opinion of smth.:
- Tom’s latest book has been severely put down in the newspaper reports.