To lay about

To lay about
Lay Lay, v. i. 1. To produce and deposit eggs. [1913 Webster]

2. (Naut.) To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft. [1913 Webster]

3. To lay a wager; to bet. [1913 Webster]

{To lay about}, or {To lay about one}, to strike vigorously in all directions. --J. H. Newman.

{To lay at}, to strike or strike at. --Spenser.

{To lay for}, to prepare to capture or assault; to lay wait for. [Colloq.] --Bp Hall.

{To lay in for}, to make overtures for; to engage or secure the possession of. [Obs.] ``I have laid in for these.'' --Dryden.

{To lay on}, to strike; to beat; to attack. --Shak.

{To lay out}, to purpose; to plan; as, he lays out to make a journey. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • lay about one — ► lay about one strike out wildly. Main Entry: ↑lay …   English terms dictionary

  • lay about one — To deal blows vigorously or on all sides • • • Main Entry: ↑lay …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay about — intransitive verb 1. : to strike in all directions : hit out at random 2. : to take steps in preparation : seek means : go about * * * ˌlay a ˈbout [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay about — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms lay about : present tense I/you/we/they lay about he/she/it lays about present participle laying about past tense laid about past participle laid about British old fashioned lay about someone to attack someone …   English dictionary

  • lay about — Brit. beat or attack violently. ↘(lay about one) strike out wildly on all sides. → lay …   English new terms dictionary

  • lay about somebody (with something) — ˌlay aˈbout sb (with sth) derived (BrE) to attack sb violently • The gang laid about him with sticks. Main entry: ↑layderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay about you (with something) — ˌlay aˈbout you/yourself (with sth) derived (BrE) to hit sb/sth without control or move your arms or legs violently in all directions • She laid about herself with her stick to keep the dogs off. Main entry: ↑layderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay about yourself (with something) — ˌlay aˈbout you/yourself (with sth) derived (BrE) to hit sb/sth without control or move your arms or legs violently in all directions • She laid about herself with her stick to keep the dogs off. Main entry: ↑layderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • To lay about one — Lay Lay, v. i. 1. To produce and deposit eggs. [1913 Webster] 2. (Naut.) To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft. [1913 Webster] 3. To lay a wager; to bet. [1913 Webster] {To lay about}, or {To lay about one}, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lay about one — {v. phr.} To hit out in all directions. Used with a reflexive object: her , him , or them . * /The bandits surrounded the sheriff, but he laid about him so hard, with his gun used as a club, that they stepped back and let him escape./ * /Mrs.… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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