lay down (one's) life
To sacrifice one's life (for someone or something); to die (for a purpose). Our soldiers are out there laying down their lives for our freedom, and we should show our support. To lay down one's life to save a stranger is the ultimate sacrifice.
lay down one's life (for someone or something)
Fig. to sacrifice one's life for someone or something. Would you lay down your life for your country? There aren't many things for which I'd lay down my life.
lay down your ˈlife (for somebody/something)
(literary) die for your country, a cause etc: Thousands of young men laid down their lives in the war so that we could live in freedom.