L

[law unto oneself]  {n. phr.},  {literary}

A person who does only what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't like it.

Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he was a law unto himself.

* /Mr. Brown told Johnny that he  […]

[lay about one]  {v. phr.}

To hit out in all directions. — Used with a reflexive object: "her", "him", or "them".

* /The bandits surrounded the sheriff, but he laid about him so hard, with his gun used as a club, that they stepped back and let him  […]

[lay a finger on]  {v. phr.}

To touch or bother, even a little. — Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences.

Don't you dare lay a finger on the vase!

* /Suppose Billy fakes his brother with him; wilt the mean, tough boy down the  […]

[lay an egg]  {v. phr.},  {slang}

To fail to win the interest or favor of an audience.

His joke laid an egg.

[lay aside]  {v. phr.}

1. To put off until another time; interrupt an activity.

The president laid aside politics to turn to foreign affairs.

2. To save.

[lay at one's door]  {v. phr.},  {literary}

To blame (something) on a person.

The failure of the plan was laid at his door.

Compare: [LAY TO] (1).

[lay away]  {v.}

1. To save.

She laid a little of her pay away each week.

2. To bury (a person). — Used to avoid the word "bury", which some people think is unpleasant.

[lay-away plan]  {n.}

A plan for buying something that you can't pay cash for; a plan in which you pay some money down and pay a little more when you can, and the store holds the article until you have paid the full price.

* /She could not afford to pay  […]

[lay bare]  {v. phr.}

To expose; reveal; divulge.