What does the phrase the lay of the land mean?
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What does the phrase the lay of the land mean?
Definition of the lay of the land US. : the arrangement of the different parts in an area of land : where things are located in a place She knew the lay of the land from hiking through it daily. —often used figuratively It takes time for new employees to get the lay of the land in this department.
Does land lay or lie?
In American English, the idiomatic noun phrase used to describe topography or the state of affairs is “lay of the land.” In British English, it’s “lie of the land.”
How do you use lay of the land in a sentence?
Lay-of-the-land sentence example
- Get the lay of the land – The room in which you install a loft bed will need enough square footage to allow for easy movement in and out.
- Whether you choose a high-tech or a basic paper Vermont ski map, knowing the lay of the land can enhance your skiing or snowboarding experience.
Where does lay of the land come from?
The idiom lay of the land is first recorded in 1819. A related idiom is the British phrase how the land lies, a usage that turns up in about 1700. According to Google Ngram Viewer, the use of the term lay of the land peaked in the early 1900s.
What is another word for the lay of the land?
What is another word for lay of the land?
| appearance | circumstances |
|---|---|
| prospect | state of affairs |
| state of things | how the land lies |
| how things stand | lay |
| lie | lie of the land |
Where did lay of the land come from?
What do you mean by so to speak?
Definition of so to speak —used to indicate that one is using words in an unusual or figurative way rather than a literal way We need to be all on the same wavelength, so to speak.
What is meant by the term lay of the land religion?
Lay of the land is a phrase that figuratively or metaphorically means the current state of affairs, how something is organized.
What does sorta speak meaning?
When you use an expression that is not meant entirely literally, or is slang or informal, you may follow it with “so to speak” or “in a manner of speaking.” It is most appropriately used to acknowledge that you have just expressed an idea in an unusual fashion.
What does the phrase if you will mean?
(also if you like) used to say that a particular expression is one way of saying something, especially to suggest that some people may not choose to say it that way: I did very well in school , with a “genius IQ” if you will.
What does humid shadows mean in the poem?
(i) “Humid shadows” refer to the dark clouds that produce rain. When it rains poet gets into his cottage and enjoy the patter of rain upon the roof. (iv)This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet’s mind.