A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

lay something down • put something down
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 2
1
st 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 put-
ting 
1
0 percent down and paying the rest over twenty-five
years. 6. = lay something down 4: I have put down over 
1
00
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.
lay something off • put something off
lay something off —
1
. spread smth. such as money more
widely to insure against a loss: The large insurance contract
was laid off among many firms. 2. (of a ship) anchor near a
certain location: The ship was laid off outside the harbor while
the storm lasted. 3. stop wearing smth.: It’s time we were able
to lay off these heavy winter clothes.
put something off —
1
. (also: put something over) postpone
smth.; leave smth. to a later date: Don’t put off making the
arrangements until the last minute. 2. = lay something off 3:
The war was over but Harold was still in khaki; he never
looked so nearly a gentleman again when he put it off. 3. dis-
connect electricity: Please put off all the lights as you leave
the building. 4. get rid of smth.; cease to consider smth.: It’s
good to have put off the responsibility of the chairmanship.