Phrase guide

lay of the land

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The trends, feelings, intentions, and other factors influencing a strategic, political, or social situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 地形 (dìxíng) — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • Chinese Mandarin: 地勢 /地势 (dìshì) — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • Dutch: ligging van het gebied — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • Finnish: maasto — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • German: örtliche Gegebenheiten — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • Italian: configurazione del terreno — physical characteristics of the terrain or surrounding natural environment
  • Chinese Mandarin: 形勢 /形势 (xíngshì) — trends, feelings influencing a situation
  • Dutch: stand van zaken — trends, feelings influencing a situation
  • Finnish: tunnelma — trends, feelings influencing a situation
  • German: Lage der Dinge — trends, feelings influencing a situation
  • German: Stimmungslage — trends, feelings influencing a situation
  • German: Stand der Dinge — trends, feelings influencing a situation