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Lay Down the Marker

What Does "Lay Down the Marker" Mean?

homeidiomsLay Down the Marker
"Lay down the marker" is an English idiom. It means "to establish a standard or expectation that others will need to meet or contend with."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "lay down the marker" used in a sentence:
  • The athlete laid down the marker with his incredible performance.
  • The company laid down the marker with its innovative product.
  • She laid down the marker for other researchers in the field.
meaning for lay down the marker

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Lay Down the Marker" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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