lay low Definition

lay¹
verb laid, laying

1. To place something on a surface, especially in a lying or horizontal position.

Example: laid the letter on the table
Thesaurus: put, place, set, deposit.
2. To put or bring something to a stated position or condition.

Example: laid her hand on his arm
3. To design, arrange or prepare.

Example: lay plans
Thesaurus: order, arrange, organize, systematize.
4. To put plates and cutlery, etc on (a table) ready for a meal.
5. To prepare (a fire) by putting coal, etc in the grate.
tr & intr
6. Said of a female bird: to produce (eggs).

Thesaurus: deposit, yield, generate, have, bear.
7. To present.

Example: laid his case before the court
8. To set something down as a basis.

Example: laid the ground rules
9. To deal with or remove.

Example: lay a fear
10. colloq
To place (a bet).
Example: I'll lay 20 quid you can't eat the whole plateful
11. slang
To have sexual intercourse with someone, especially a woman.

noun

1. The way or position in which something is lying.

Example: the lay of the surrounding countryside
2a. slang
A partner in sexual intercourse;
2b. slang
An act of sexual intercourse.

Idiom: get laid

colloq
To succeed in having sexual intercourse.

Idiom: lay about one

To strike blows in all directions.

Idiom: lay something bare

To reveal or explain (a plan or intention that has been kept secret).

Idiom: lay down the law

To dictate in a forceful and domineering way.

Idiom: lay down one's arms

To surrender or call a truce.

Idiom: lay it on thick

colloq
To exaggerate, especially in connection with flattery, praise, etc.

Idiom: lay low

To overthrow, fell or kill.

Idiom: lay one's hands on someone or something

colloq
To succeed in getting hold of them or it.

Idiom: lay oneself open to something

To expose oneself to criticism or attack.

Idiom: lay something on someone

To assign or attribute it to them.
Example: laid the blame on his friends

colloq
To give it to them, especially unexpectedly or without payment.

Idiom: lay someone low

Said of an illness: to affect them severely.

Idiom: lay something open

To uncover or reveal it.

To cut it open.

Idiom: lay someone to rest

To bury (a dead body).

Idiom: lay waste

To destroy or devastate completely.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon lecgan.

Phrasal Verb: lay something aside

To put it to one side, especially for later use or treatment.To discard or abandon it.

Phrasal Verb: lay something by

To put it away for future use.

Phrasal Verb: lay something down

To put it on the ground or some other surface.To give it as a deposit, pledge, etc.To give up or sacrifice.
Example: lay down one's life
To formulate or devise.
Example: lay down a plan
To store (wine) in a cellar.To begin to build (a ship or railway).To put (music) onto tape, CD, etc.
Example: laid down ten tracks in only three days

Phrasal Verb: lay something in

To get and store a supply of it.

Phrasal Verb: lay into someone

To attack or scold them severely.

Phrasal Verb: lay into something

To eat it quickly and with enthusiasm.

Phrasal Verb: lay someone off

To dismiss (an employee) when there is no work available. See also lay-off.

Phrasal Verb: lay off something

To stop it.

Phrasal Verb: lay off someone

To leave them alone.

Phrasal Verb: lay something on

To provide a supply of it.

Phrasal Verb: lay someone out

To knock them unconscious.To prepare (a dead body) for burial.

Phrasal Verb: lay something out

To plan and arrange (especially land or natural features).To spread it out or display it.To spend it. See also layout.

Phrasal Verb: lay someone up

To force them to stay in bed or at home.

Phrasal Verb: lay something up

To keep or store it.
Example: laid up some of her delicious jam
To put (a ship) out of use, especially for repairs.

Info:

○ These two verbs are commonly confused ― even by native speakers ― because their meanings are close and their forms overlap, since lay is also the past of lie:

○ Another cause of confusion is the closeness in form of laid and lain, and the fact that laid is the past and past participle of lay; but lain is only the past participle of lie:

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low¹
adj lower, lowest

1. Said of a building, hill, etc: measuring comparatively little from top to bottom.
2. Close to the ground, sea-level, the horizon, etc.

Example: low cloud
Thesaurus: flat, squat, level, low-lying, prostrate, crouched, knee-high; Antonym: raised.
3. Said of a temperature, volume of water, score, etc: measuring comparatively less than is usual or average.

Example: The river is low
4. Having little value; not costing very much.
5. Said of numbers: small.
6. Not near the top.

Example: Shopping was low on her list of priorities
7. Coarse, rude, vulgar, etc.

Thesaurus: vulgar, base, mean, cheap, coarse, contemptible, crude, degraded, scurvy; Antonym: noble, lofty.
8. Being of humble rank or position.
9. Not very advanced; unsophisticated.

Example: Worms are a low form of animal life
10. Said of the neckline of a garment: leaving the neck and upper part of the chest bare.
11a. Said of a sound, note, voice, etc: quiet; soft;

Example: The fridge gives out a low hum
Thesaurus: muffled, soft, hushed, quiet; Antonym: loud, blaring.
11b. Said of a sound, note, voice, etc: produced by slow vibrations and having a deep pitch.
12a. Weak; lacking in energy or vitality;

Example: feeling low after the operation
12b. Depressed; dispirited.

Example: feeling low after losing his job
Thesaurus: dejected, unhappy, dispirited, moody, downcast, down, blue; Antonym: cheerful, upbeat.
13. Unfavourable.

Example: a low opinion
14. Underhanded; unprincipled

Example: How low can you get?
15. Giving a relatively slow engine speed.

Example: a low gear
16. Subdued.

Example: low lighting
17. Not prominent or conspicuous.

Example: keeping a low profile
18. Said of latitudes: near the equator.
19. phonetics.
Said of a vowel: produced with the tongue or part of the tongue comparatively depressed and away from the palate. Also called open.

adverb

1. In or to a low position, state or manner.

Example: aimed low and fired
Example: brought low by his gambling debts
2. In a small quantity or to a small degree.
3a. Said of a sound, etc: quietly;
3b. Said of a sound, etc: with or in a deep pitch.
4a. Not measuring much in a specified respect;

Example: low-voltage
4b. Not far off the ground;

Example: low-slung
4c. Deeply;

Example: low-cut
4d. Lowly.

Example: low-born

noun

1. A depth, position, level, etc which is low or lowest.

Example: The pound has reached an all-time low
2. meteorol.
A cyclone 1.

Derivative: lowness
noun

Idiom: lay low

See under lay.

Idiom: lie low

See under lie.

Idiom: lowest of the low

The most contemptible.

Idiom: low in something

Containing less than the average amount, etc of it.
Example: low in fat

Idiom: low on something

sometimes euphemistic
Not having much of it.
Example: We're low on coffee
Example: She's a bit low on the brains front

Not having much of it left.
Example: running low on petrol

Etymology: 12c: from Norse lagr.