lay down the law

verb

Roget 535: assert; make an assertion etc. n.; have one's say; say, affirm, predicate, declare, state; protest, profess.    put forth, put forward; advance, allege, propose, propound, enunciate, broach, set forth, hold out, maintain, contend, pronounce, pretend.    depose, depone, aver, avow, avouch, asseverate, swear; make oath, take one's oath; make an affidavit, swear an affidavit, put in an affidavit; take one's Bible oath, kiss the book, vow, vitam impendere vero [Lat.]; swear till one is black in the face, swear till one is blue in the face, swear till all's blue; be sworn, call Heaven to witness; vouch, warrant, certify, assure, swear by bell book and candle.    swear by etc. (believe) 484; insist upon, take one's stand upon; emphasize, lay stress on; assert roundly, assert positively; lay down, lay down the law; raise one's voice, dogmatize, have the last word; rap out; repeat; reassert, reaffirm.    announce etc. (information) 527; acknowledge etc. (assent) 488; attest etc. (evidence) 467; adjure etc. (put to one's oath) 768.    ... show more

Roget 474: be certain etc. adj.; stand to reason.    render certain etc. adj.; insure, ensure, assure; clinch, make sure; determine, decide, set at rest, make assurance double sure" [Macbeth]; know etc. (believe) 484.    dogmatize, lay down the law.    ... show more

Roget 741: command, order, decree, enact, ordain, dictate, direct, give orders.    prescribe, set, appoint, mark out; set a task, prescribe a task, impose a task; set to work, put in requisition.    bid, enjoin, charge, call upon, instruct; require at the hands of; exact, impose, tax, task; demand; insist on etc. (compel) 744.    claim, lay claim to, revendicate^†, reclaim.    cite, summon; call for, send for; subpoena; beckon.    issue a command; make a requisition, issue a requisition, promulgate a requisition, make a decree, issue a decree, promulgate a decree, make an order, issue an order, promulgate an order etc. n.; give the word of command, give the word, give the signal; call to order; give the law, lay down the law; assume the command etc. (authority) 737; remand.    be ordered &c.; receive an order etc. n.. ... show more

Roget 885: be insolent etc. adj.; bluster, vapor, swagger, swell, give oneself airs, snap one's fingers, kick up a dust; swear etc. (affirm) 535; rap out oaths; roister.    arrogate; assume, presume; make bold, make free; take a liberty, give an inch and take an ell.    domineer, bully, dictate, hector; lord it over; traiter de haut en bas [Fr.], regarder de haut en bas [Fr.]; exact; snub, huff.   , beard, fly in the face of; put to the blush; bear down, beat down; browbeat, intimidate; trample down, tread down, trample under foot; dragoon, ride roughshod over.    out face, outlook, outstare, outbrazen^†, outbrave^†; stare out of countenance; brazen out; lay down the law; teach one's grandmother to suck eggs; assume a lofty bearing; talk big, look big; put on big looks, act the grand seigneur [Fr.]; mount the high horse, ride the high horse; toss the head, carry, with a high hand.    tempt Providence, want snuffing.    ... show more

Roget 737: authorize etc. (permit) 760; warrant etc. (right) 924; dictate etc. (order) 741.    be at the head of etc. adj.; hold office, be in office, fill an office; hold master, occupy master, a post master, be master etc. 745.    have the upper hand, get the upper hand, have the whip, get the whip; gain a hold upon, preponderate, dominate, rule the roost; boss [U.S.]; override, overrule, overawe; lord it over, hold in hand, keep under, make a puppet of, lead by the nose, turn round one's little finger, bend to one's will, hold one's own, wear the breeches; have the ball at one's feet, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's own hand, have on the hip, have under one's thumb; be master of the situation; take the lead, play first fiddle, set the fashion; give the law to; carry with a high hand; lay down the law; ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm" [Addison]; rule with a rod of iron etc. (severity) 739.    ... show more

Moby thesaurus: be responsible for, bestride, call the signals, captain, carry on, command, conduct, control, dictate, direct, dogmatize, dominate, engineer, govern, handle, have the ascendancy, head, head up, lead, lead on, make the rules, manage, maneuver, manipulate, master, mastermind, officer, oracle, oraculate, order, play first fiddle, pontificate, predominate, preponderate, prescribe, prevail, proclaim, pull the strings, quarterback, regulate, rule the roost, run, skipper, take command, take the lead, twist, wear the pants ... show more.

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