Question

Could u please explain me where "lying" in the following sentence is from? It looks as though the terrorists had been lying in wait. It is from lay or lie ?

Also you don't have to go round laying down the law. What does it mean to lay down here?

Answer 1

1. "lying in wait" comes from "to lie in wait" which is an exprossion meaning to stay hidden, ready to attack
2. "laying down the law" comes from "to lay down the law" and it means ordering people, telling them what to do