lay down the law 1. 权威性地表态;严令 lay down the law on a question 就一个问题立下规矩 The teacher lays down the law about homework every afternoon. 教师每天下午严格规定学生的家庭作业。 2. (自以为是地)发号施令 3. 呵责 The teacher laid down the law to the two boys who skipped classes. 教师对逃课的两名学生严加斥责。