Question 1

What does "lay down" mean?

Accepted Answer

To place something in a flat or horizontal position on a surface.

Question 2

How do you use "lay down" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

She carefully laid down the sleeping baby in the cot.

Question 3

Is "lay down" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"lay down" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. The transitive senses (place flat, establish rules) are standard in all registers. The intransitive use ('I need to lay down') is common in informal American English but considered non-standard by prescriptivists, who prefer 'lie down'. The 'establish rules' sense is often found in formal, legal, or religious contexts.

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