1. give strict orders下命令;嚴令
He could usually be found in the centre of a small group of people to whom he was laying down the law. 我們常看到他在一小群人當中發號施令。
2. speak severely or seriously about a wrong doing;scold嚴厲斥責;呵斥
The principal called in the students and laid down the law to them about skipping classes. 校長集合學生嚴責他們逃課。
Father is laying down the law to the children again; I wonder what they've done now. 父親又嚴厲地訓斥孩子們了,不知道他們現在又幹了什麼事。