Sortie

[scripto]

Do you write "To check the LAY or LIE of the land." ?

[MikeNewYork]

Do you write "To check the LAY or LIE of the land." ?

Lay

[curmudgeon]

Lay

I think its lie.

For instance you could be asked; "go and see how the land lies'

[Tdol]

That's a different form, though, you check 'the lay of the land' in my book.

[MikeNewYork]

I think its lie.

For instance you could be asked; "go and see how the land lies'

Sorry, but I disagree. "Lie of the land" and "lay of the land" are both used, but "lay" is far more common.

[curmudgeon]

Sorry, but I disagree. "Lie of the land" and "lay of the land" are both used, but "lay" is far more common.

Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.

lie of the land, lay of the land


Both locutions are Standard, meaning “the way things are literally or figuratively positioned with respect to other things,” as in As soon as we get a look at the lie [lay] of the land, we’ll decide what to do next.


'Lie' is more common in Britain, never heard anyone say 'Lay in that context

[Tdol]

I'm a BrE speaker and I use 'the lay'- maybe it's regional.

[MikeNewYork]

Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.

lie of the land, lay of the land


Both locutions are Standard, meaning “the way things are literally or figuratively positioned with respect to other things,” as in As soon as we get a look at the lie [lay] of the land, we’ll decide what to do next.


'Lie' is more common in Britain, never heard anyone say 'Lay in that context

Perhaps "lie" is more common in Britain, bit it isn't here.

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 150,000 for "lie of the land".

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 716,000 for "lay of the land".

[curmudgeon]

Well, I give in, I had a conversation with a (english) friend regarding this. She said she would pronounce it 'lie' but write it 'lay' !

I'm scots so maybe its a regional thing, it just seems natural to me to say 'lie'

Bob Dylan: Lie lady lie, lie across my big brass bed

[Tdol]

Well, that's all cleared up, er...