the lay of the land
noun phrase
US
: the arrangement of the different parts in an area of land : where things are located in a place
She knew the lay of the land from hiking through it daily.
—often used figurativelyIt takes time for new employees to get the lay of the land in this department.
Examples of the lay of the land in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the maps showed several fingers coming off the ridge in that area, and the maps made the lay of the land even more confusing.
—
Larry Dablemont, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2025
To review the timeline: Chloe enters the gift shop, gets the lay of the land, goes into the dressing room and texts Greg/Gary that there’s no security.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
And just get an idea, the lay of the land of how things work in this league.
—ABC News, 9 Feb. 2025
Noni shepherded us to the main lodge to introduce the staff and give me the lay of the land for the next week.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2025
Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was still a young player figuring out how to be pro, and new edge Brian Burns was still learning the lay of the land.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
Go beyond surface-level research Finding an experienced safari operator with a conservation background — one that knows the lay of the land, the weather, the politics, the people and the wildlife — means doing some homework.
—Costas Christ, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
To get the lay of the land, book the two-hour Yosemite Valley Floor Tour.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s particularly so as anti-China Trump advisors like Peter Navarro and hardline trade officials like Robert Lighthizer and Jamieson Greer give him the lay of the land.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Larry Dablemont, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2025
To review the timeline: Chloe enters the gift shop, gets the lay of the land, goes into the dressing room and texts Greg/Gary that there’s no security.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
And just get an idea, the lay of the land of how things work in this league.
—ABC News, 9 Feb. 2025
Noni shepherded us to the main lodge to introduce the staff and give me the lay of the land for the next week.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2025
Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux was still a young player figuring out how to be pro, and new edge Brian Burns was still learning the lay of the land.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2025
Go beyond surface-level research Finding an experienced safari operator with a conservation background — one that knows the lay of the land, the weather, the politics, the people and the wildlife — means doing some homework.
—Costas Christ, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
To get the lay of the land, book the two-hour Yosemite Valley Floor Tour.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s particularly so as anti-China Trump advisors like Peter Navarro and hardline trade officials like Robert Lighthizer and Jamieson Greer give him the lay of the land.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The lay of the land.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20lay%20of%20the%20land. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share