lay of the land
The idiom "lay of the land" is used both literally and figuratively to describe an understanding of a particular area or situation.
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Definition
B2Geography
(idiomatic)The physical features and arrangement of an area.
Example
- Before starting the hike, they studied the lay of the land to plan their route.
B2General
(idiomatic)The overall state or condition of a situation, including its key elements and dynamics.
Example
- She took some time to understand the lay of the land before making any decisions at her new job.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "lay of the land":
lay outlay openlay figurelay bylay wastelay tolay overfacts on the groundlay about