lay aside
1. To physically move something out of the way. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lay" and "aside." I laid aside the book I had been reading and went downstairs to see what had happened. She has real trouble laying her phone aside for more than a few minutes at a time.
2. To stop doing something temporarily. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lay" and "aside." Can't we lay aside the arguing and have a civil dinner for once?
3. To abandon or forsake some pursuit or goal. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lay" and "aside." When my kids were younger, I chose to lay my career aspirations aside and become a stay-at-home dad.
4. To save or keep something for future use. A noun or pronoun can be used between "lay" and "aside." You should lay aside part of each paycheck and put it into a retirement fund.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
lay something aside
to set something aside; to place something to one side, out of the way. He laid his papers aside and went out to welcome the visitor. He laid aside his papers.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
lay aside
1. Give up, abandon, as in He laid aside all hopes of winning first prize. [First half of 1400s]
2. Also,
lay away;
lay by. Set apart for a reason, save for the future, as in
They lay aside enough to pay the rent, or
Because coffee prices were rising, she laid by enough for a month, or
The store laid away the winter coat I wanted. [Early 1700s] The first variant gave rise, about 1970, to the term
layaway plan, in which merchandise is
laid away for a buyer who pays a deposit and receives it when payment is made in full. Also see
lay down, def. 4;
set aside.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lay aside
v.1. To stop being actively engaged with something: I will lay aside my reading and go for a walk when I finish this chapter. The lifeguard laid the binoculars aside and jumped in the water.
2. To abandon something, especially a plan, hope, or desire; give up something: The marooned sailors had lain aside any hope of being saved. When the loan fell through, they laid their plans of buying a house aside.
3. To save something for the future: I lay aside part of my paycheck every week to save for a new car. Let's lay part of your allowance aside to pay for the movies.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.