to excuse yourself from something.

I had the chance to spend the day at the beach, but I begged off, saying I had too much work on my desk.

• take something away from something
• take something by storm
• laundry list
• law of averages
• law of the jungle
• law unto
• law unto yourself
• lay a finger on
• lay a finger on someone
• lay a finger on something
• lay a hand on
• lay a hand on someone
• lay an egg
• lay aside
• lay aside something
• lay at door
• lay at someone's door
• lay bare
• lay bare something
• lay cards on the table
• lay down
• lay down life
• lay down something
• lay down the law
• lay down your life