to get the lay of the land
- to get the lay of the land
- Lay Lay, n.
1. That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having
been laid or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a
layer; as, a lay of stone or wood. --Addison.
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A viol should have a lay of wire strings below.
--Bacon.
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Note: The lay of a rope is right-handed or left-handed
according to the hemp or strands are laid up. See
{Lay}, v. t., 16. The lay of land is its topographical
situation, esp. its slope and its surface features.
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2. A wager. ``My fortunes against any lay worth naming.''
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3.
(a) A job, price, or profit. [Prov. Eng.] --Wright.
(b) A share of the proceeds or profits of an enterprise;
as, when a man ships for a whaling voyage, he agrees
for a certain lay. [U. S.]
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4. (Textile Manuf.)
(a) A measure of yarn; a lea. See 1st {Lea}
(a) .
(b) The lathe of a loom. See {Lathe}, 3.
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5. A plan; a scheme. [Slang] --Dickens.
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{Lay figure}.
(a) A jointed model of the human body that may be put in
any attitude; -- used for showing the disposition of
drapery, etc.
(b) A mere puppet; one who serves the will of others
without independent volition.
{Lay race}, that part of a lay on which the shuttle travels
in weaving; -- called also {shuttle race}.
{the lay of the land}, the general situation or state of
affairs.
{to get the lay of the land}, to learn the general situation
or state of affairs, especially in preparation for action.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
lay of the land — the disposition of circumstances which one is considering wanted to know more about the lay of the land before investing * * * the general state or condition of affairs under consideration; the facts of a situation: We asked a few questions to… … Useful english dictionary
lay of the land — also[how the land lies] {n. phr.} 1. The natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. * /The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land./ 2. The way something is arranged; the important facts… … Dictionary of American idioms
lay of the land — also[how the land lies] {n. phr.} 1. The natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. * /The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land./ 2. The way something is arranged; the important facts… … Dictionary of American idioms
the lay of the land — the lay (Brit. lie) of the land the way in which the features or characteristics of an area present themselves ■ figurative the current situation or state of affairs she was beginning to see the lay of the land with her in laws * * * the lay of… … Useful english dictionary
the lay of the land — Lay Lay, n. 1. That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having been laid or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of stone or wood. Addison. [1913 Webster] A viol should have a lay of wire strings below. Bacon.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
lay of the land — the general state or condition of affairs under consideration; the facts of a situation: We asked a few questions to get the lay of the land. Also, esp. Brit., lie of the land. * * * … Universalium
the lay of the land — See get the lay of the land … English idioms
lay of the land — See get the lay of the land … English idioms
The Lay of the Land — infobox Book | name = The Lay of the Land title orig = translator = caption = First edition cover author = Richard Ford cover artist = country = United States language = English series = genre = publisher = Knopf release date = October 2006 media … Wikipedia
get the lay of the land — check the conditions, size up the situation Before I sell insurance in a town, I like to get the lay of the land … English idioms
