lay of the land
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.54 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment.
noun
The trends, feelings, intentions, and other factors influencing a strategic, political, or social situation.
Example Sentences
- "I did not know the exact route, but steered by the lay of the land, as I do in Boston."
- "He noted well the locality, the trees, and the lay of the land."
- "Because he knew the lay of the land, he could run faster in the darkness than his pursuer."
- "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."
- ""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.""
- "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."