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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

lay of the land en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) The physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment.
    • I did not know the exact route, but steered by the lay of the land, as I do in Boston. 1857, Henry David Thoreau, chapter 1, in Canoeing In The Wilderness:
    • He noted well the locality, the trees, and the lay of the land. 1910, Joseph A. Altsheler, chapter 9, in The Riflemen of the Ohio:
    • Because he knew the lay of the land, he could run faster in the darkness than his pursuer. 1919, Upton Sinclair, chapter 10, in Jimmie Higgins […], Pasadena, Calif.: Upton Sinclair, →OCLC:
  2. (idiomatic) The trends, feelings, intentions, and other factors influencing a strategic, political, or social situation.
    • Slava Tsukerman is a Soviet émigré who has lived in New York City since 1976, apparently long enough for him to get the lay of the land. 1983 July 22, Janet Maslin, “‘Liquid Sky,’ High Fashion and a U.F.O.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
    • McCain: I want to see what the lay of the land is after the November elections. 2002 March 29, Douglas Waller, “McCain: After Finance Reform, What?”, in Time:
    • "Now look here, Mary," he said, "I've been expecting you. I warn you before you begin that I cannot sanction your marriage to a Protestant." "Oh, but I'm going to convart him!" cried Mary so quickly that the priest laughed harder than ever. "So that's the lay of the land!" he chuckled. "Well, if you'll guarantee that, I'll give in." 1907, Gene Stratton-Porter, chapter 11, in At the Foot of the Rainbow:
    • I'll feel the pulse of my friends and yours, and when we get the lay of the land, the affair can be accomplished much more easily. 1901, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 17, in The Marrow of Tradition:
    • She saw the boy's glance, she shifted her knees impatiently and her little face grew sullen. Hale smiled inwardly, for he thought he could already see the lay of the land, and he wondered that, at such an age, such fierceness could be. 1908, John Fox Jr., chapter 4, in The Trail of the Lonesome Pine:

Synonyms

lie of the land

Translations (12)

de Stand der Dinge (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · fi tunnelma (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · de Lage der Dinge (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · cmn 形勢 /形势 (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · cmn 地形 (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment) · nl ligging van het gebied (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment) · nl stand van zaken (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · de örtliche Gegebenheiten (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment) · de Stimmungslage (trends, feelings influencing a situation) · fi maasto (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment) · it configurazione del terreno (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment) · cmn 地勢 /地势 (physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment)