lay at someone's door

verb

To blame (a problem) on someone; to hold someone responsible for (something).

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Meanings

verblay at someone's door (third-person singular simple present lays at someone's door, present participle laying at someone's door, simple past and past participle laid at someone's door)

present singular third person lays at someone's door · participle present laying at someone's door · participle past laid at someone's door · past laid at someone's door

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo blame (a problem) on someone; to hold someone responsible for (something).

    Likewise, a flop will be laid at his door [James Gunn's door].

    2025 July 12, Danny Leigh, “Hollywood’s box office superhero returns”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 9
    1 more example

    Conviction of sin held him like a vice: he saw the lassie's death laid at his door; her face haunted him by day and night, and the word of the Lord dirled in his ears, telling of wrath and punishment.

    1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide
verb
  1. pastsimple past of lie at someone's door

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
accuseblamedefameinculpatetwit

Origin

Alludes to someone laying incriminating evidence at the door of a guilty person, perhaps during the night. Compare lie at someone's door.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lay at someone's door. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20at%20someone's%20door

MLA

“lay at someone's door.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20at%20someone's%20door. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay at someone's door,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20at%20someone's%20door.

Source: lay at someone's door on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.