lay over: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘lay over’ mean?
The idiom "lay over" means to have a temporary stop or stay during a journey before continuing on to another destination.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "lay to rest" means to finally resolve or put an end to something, especially a controversial or lingering issue, through a definitive action or decision.
The idiom "lay on" means to apply or administer something, usually in a forceful or excessive manner. It can also refer to providing or giving something, often in a generous or lavish way.
The idiom "lay off" means to stop doing or using something, to stop bothering someone, or to stop employing someone, usually due to a lack of work or financial issues.
The idiom "lay eyes on" means to see or look at something. It implies that the person looking at something has a strong desire or interest in it.
The idiom "lay by the heels" means to arrest or capture someone, typically in a forceful manner, by seizing their ankles as a form of restraint.
The idiom "keel over" means to suddenly fall over, usually due to extreme tiredness, illness, or shock. It can also be used figuratively to describe a sudden collapse or failure of something.
The idiom "hold over someone's head" means to continually remind someone of a past mistake or wrongdoings in order to control or manipulate them.
The idiom "hold over" means to delay or postpone something. It can be used to describe the continuation of a person's term in office or the extension of a deadline or appointment.
The Hidden Essence
The idiom "lay over" has multiple meanings and uses in American English. One common meaning is related to a temporary stop or interruption during a journey. When someone says, "I have a layover in Chicago," they are referring to a break in their trip where they must wait at an airport or train station before continuing to their final destination.
Another usage of "lay over" is in reference to a temporary stay or visit. For example, if someone says, "I'm going to lay over at my friend's place tonight," they mean that they will be staying overnight at their friend's house before moving on.
The idiom "lay over" can also be used in the context of delayed or postponed plans. If someone says, "I had to lay over my plans due to unforeseen circumstances," they mean that they had to reschedule or delay their plans because of unexpected events.
Furthermore, "lay over" is sometimes used idiomatically to mean to put something aside or temporarily stop doing something. For instance, someone might say, "I have to lay over this project for now and focus on other priorities."
It is worth noting that the idiom "lay over" is often interchangeable with the similar idiom "stop over." Both idioms convey the idea of a temporary pause or break in a journey or activity.
The idiom "hold over" is related to "lay over" in the sense that it also refers to a temporary interruption or continuation. However, "hold over" suggests a longer duration or extension of the interruption. For example, if a play is performing well, it may "hold over" for an additional week, meaning its run is extended.
Similarly, the idiom "lay on" is related to "lay over" in the context of providing or arranging for something to happen. For instance, if someone says, "I'll lay on some food for the party," they mean that they will provide or arrange for food to be available at the party.
The idiom "carry over" is also related to "lay over" in the sense of extending or continuing something. In accounting, "carry over" refers to the transfer or continuation of a balance or value from one period to another. For example, if a company has a positive balance at the end of the year, it can "carry over" that balance to the next year.
The idiom "lay over" has multiple meanings and uses in American English. It can refer to a temporary stop during a trip, a temporary stay or visit, a delay or postponement of plans, or a pause in an ongoing activity. The versatility of this idiom allows it to be used in various contexts, providing speakers with a concise and effective way to express different situations. The related idioms "hold over," "lay on," and "carry over" all share similar concepts of interruption, continuation, or extension, further expanding the range of expressions available to English speakers.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "lay over" can be used in a sentence:
- During our flight, we had a layover in Chicago before continuing on to New York.
- If you have a long layover during your trip, you can explore the city and make the most of your time.
- Due to bad weather, our flight was forced to lay over in Denver overnight.
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