lay of the land

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the lay of the land

the way a situation has been arranged or has developed. If you see them together, you don't have to be a detective to understand the lay of the land.

See also: land, lay

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? References in classic literature
The night was pretty dark, with neither moon nor stars visible, and as Brower had never dwelt thereabout, and knew nothing of the lay of the land, he was, naturally, not long in losing himself. Present At A Hanging And Other Ghost Stories by Bierce, Ambrose View in context But I didn't mind, because I didn't want to see nobody just yet -- I only wanted to get the lay of the land. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Mark View in context You see, I've just got to locate the lay of the land. Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context More results

References in classic literature

The night was pretty dark, with neither moon nor stars visible, and as Brower had never dwelt thereabout, and knew nothing of the lay of the land, he was, naturally, not long in losing himself.

Present At A Hanging And Other Ghost Stories by Bierce, Ambrose View in context

But I didn't mind, because I didn't want to see nobody just yet -- I only wanted to get the lay of the land.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Mark View in context

You see, I've just got to locate the lay of the land.

Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context

More results

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lay down life
lay down the law
lay eyes on
lay into
lay it on the line
lay it on thick
lay low

lay of the land
lay off
lay on
lay open
lay out
lay over
lay the blame on
lay the ghost of

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