1 C1 idiomatic informal
To record a piece of music in a studio.
"The producer asked the guitarist to lay one down before the session ended."
separable
lay one down
C1 slang separable transitive
A colloquial expression meaning to produce or deliver something, most commonly used as a euphemism for flatulence or for recording a music track.
In plain English
Do something noticeable — often used humorously when someone passes gas, or used when a musician records a song.
What does "lay one down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Euphemistic, humorous) To pass gas; to break wind.
"Someone had clearly laid one down in the elevator before we got in."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To place one (thing) down on a surface.
Actually means
Do something noticeable — often used humorously when someone passes gas, or used when a musician records a song.
Usage tip
Highly informal. In its euphemistic sense (flatulence), it is humorous and used among friends. In the music sense, it overlaps with 'lay down a track'. Learners should be aware of both meanings to avoid misunderstanding.
Words that pair with "lay one down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
track beat tune fart riff solo
How to conjugate "lay one down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lay one down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lays one down
he/she/it
Past simple
laid one down
yesterday
Past participle
laid one down
have + pp
-ing form
laying one down
continuous
Hear "lay one down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lay one down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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