to do something that sets a standard for your competitors or shows what you intend to do or achieve in the future放置/设置标记(针对某物):做一些可以为您的竞争对手设定标准或表明您将来打算做或要完成的事情
The reigning champions laid down a marker with a 36–0 defeat of their opponents.卫冕冠军以36比0击败对手奠定了基础。
The prime minister has put down a marker for a Washington visit in May.首相已经为5月份的华盛顿之行做好了准备。