lay something off— 1. spread smth. such as money more widely to insure against a loss: The large insurance contract was laid off among many firms. 2. (of a ship) anchor near a certain location: The ship was laid off outside the harbor while the storm lasted. 3. stop wearing smth.: It’s time we were […]
Difference between Lay something down and Put something down
lay something down— 1. (of laws, conditions, etc.) state or declare firmly: We had to lay down rules for the behavior of the members. 2. (of money) bet on smth.: How much are you prepared to lay down on that horse? 3. start to build smth.: We shall have to lay down a new floor […]
Difference between Lay someone up and Put someone up
lay someone up—(of an illness) cause a person to stay in bed (usually Passive): I’ve been laid up since Christmas with a bad cough. put someone up—provide food and lodging for a person: I can put up two adults, but no children.
Difference between Lay someone to sleep and Put someone to sleep
lay someone to sleep— 1. put smb., usually a child, into bed for sleep: The child is weary; let us lay him to sleep on the settee for a while. 2. (euph.) bury a person after he has died (also: lay someone to rest): One generation of burghers after another was laid to sleep in […]
Lay someone to rest vs Lay someone’s ghost to rest
lay someone to rest—(euph.) bury a person after he has died (also: lay someone to sleep):
Difference between Lay someone out in lavender and Put someone out to grass
lay someone out in lavender —(coll.) scold a person severely (also: lay someone out): If you ever feel like you need to lay me out in lavender again, just forget it. put someone out to grass—(coll.) send smb. on a holiday or into retirement (also: send someone out to grass): Of course, if you consider […]
Difference between Lay someone out and Put someone out
lay someone out— 1. knock a person to the ground (unconscious): The champion laid the contender out in the second round. 2. (coll.) exhaust or adversely affect smb.: I’ve had influenza and it laid me out for two very unpleasant and painful weeks. 3. (of a dead body) prepare for burial: Two of the women […]
Difference between Lay over and Put over
lay over—(U.S.) make an overnight stop on a journey (by plane): This flight lays over at Great Falls before completing the journey to New York. put over —(of a ship) move to one side: There’s a sailing boat coming towards us, you’d better put over to give her room.
Difference between Lay out the fire and Put out the fire
lay out the fire—make a fire start burning: He was still turned away from me, intent on his task of laying out the fire. put out the fire—make a light or fire stop burning: Put out all fires before leaving the camping ground.
Difference between Lay one’s hands on something and Lay one’s hands to something
lay one’s hands on something —(also: put one’s hands on something) 1. find or locate smth.: I can’t lay my hands on the account book—have you seen it? 2. gain possession of smth.: I’d like to know where I can lay my hands on that special tobacco. lay one’s hands to something—start work on smth.; […]
Difference between Lay of the land and Lay the land
lay of the land —(also: lie of the land) the state of affairs: I think my success was due to my waiting and not rushing in before I saw the lay of the land. lay the land—(Nautical) sail out to such a distance as to lose sight of land: We found ourselves to be at […]
Difference between Lay figure and Lay person
lay figure— 1. a wooden figure of the human body, used as a model for the arrangement of draperies, etc.: Her aunt asked her to stand as a sort of lay figure on which to display them [shawls]. 2. smb. of little importance; an insignificant person: At chapel the registrar is the important person, and […]