1
general::
lay sb out
[ M ] HIT
2. informal to hit someone so hard that they fall down and become unconscious
• Tyson was laid out for several minutes by a blow to the head., lay sth aside
[ M ] STOP
1. to stop doing or thinking about something, usually for a short period of time
• He's temporarily laid aside some quite interesting projects to write the script., lay into sb
informal
to attack someone physically or to criticise them in an angry way
• In the middle of the meeting she suddenly laid into him for no apparent reason., lay sb off
[ M often passive ]
to stop employing someone, usually because there is no work for them to do
• Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off several hundred workers., lay sth on
[ M ] PROVIDE
1. to provide something for a group of people
• They lay on free entertainment at the club every day.
• They laid on a wonderful buffet after the wedding., lay sth in
[ M ]
to get a supply of something because you will probably need it in the future
• We'd better lay in plenty of food in case we're cut off when it snows., lay sth down
[ M ] RULES
3. to officially establish a rule, or to officially state the way in which something should be done
• This is in line with the policy laid down by the management., lay sth down
[ M ] WEAPONS
2. If someone lays down their weapons, they stop fighting
• They laid down their weapons and surrendered.
• Mediators have persuaded both sides to lay down their arms., lay sth out
[ M ] SPEND MONEY
2. informal to spend money, especially a large amount
• It's not every day you lay out £2000 on a holiday., lay sb out
[ M ] DEAD BODY
1. to prepare a dead person's body to be buried , lay off (sth/sb)
informal
to stop using or doing something
• You'd better lay off alcohol for a while.
• Why can't you lay off (= stop criticising or hurting) the kid for once!, lay sth on
[ M ] TELL
2. mainly US slang to tell someone something they did not know
• I hate to be the one to lay this on you, but your girlfriend has just left with another guy., lay sth down
[ M ] WINE
1. specialized to store wine for drinking in the future , lay sth aside
[ M ] MONEY
2. to keep something, usually money, for use in the future
• She's trying to lay something aside (= save some money) for her retirement., lay sth out
[ M ] ARRANGE
1. to arrange something on a flat surface
• Most of Manhattan is laid out in/on a grid pattern with avenues going north-south and streets east-west.
• We laid the pieces of the dress pattern out on the floor.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
verb ADV. carefully, gently, tenderly | down He laid the books down on the table. PREP. on She laid the child tenderly on the bed. | over They carefully laid a blanket over the body. PHRASAL VERBS lay sth out ADV. tastefully, well The owners have built a gift shop and a tastefully laid out caravan site.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary