lay claim

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
lay claim
    v 1: demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right
         or title to; "He claimed his suitcases at the airline
         counter"; "Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because
         he is a foreign resident" [syn: {claim}, {lay claim},
         {arrogate}] [ant: {forego}, {forfeit}, {forgo}, {give up},
         {throw overboard}, {waive}]