Collocations for "lay"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "lay" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
lay
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- lay [a book, your keys] on the [table, counter]
- lay the table
- lay eggs
- the [hen, chicken] laid an egg
- lay it on the line
- lay down a [beat, song]
- laid [him, their grandmother, their father] to rest
- lay that (particular) [idea, ghost, misconception, one] to rest
- lay him out with a [punch, kick]
- lay out [the law, new rules]
- lay off [workers, employees]
- lay claim to [the inheritance, the land, the copyright]
- can lay claim to being the [most, first, biggest, oldest]
- lay down the [law, authority]
- their [motives, plans, intentions] were laid bare
- lay the [basis, foundation] for
- don't [you, even] lay a hand on her
- (just) lay off me!
- laid up with [the flu, a cold]
- lay on the [sofa, ground, bed]
- lay around all [day, week]
- lay in the [grass, sand, sun]
- lay down (for bed)
- lay on top of
- lay with her
- lay back (and relax)
- does not lay well (with)
- slang: (really) laid into him for [saying, suggesting, going]
- to the lay [public, audience]
- from a lay [viewpoint, perspective]
- in lay terms
- is a lay preacher
- a lay [sermon, service, ceremony]
- sexually explicit: is [an easy, a fast, a good] lay
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
lie
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- told a (small) white lie
- was just a white lie
- a [huge, massive] lie
- is (just) a big fat lie
- that's a damn lie!
- have never told a lie
- told a lie about [my grades, the results]
- told a lie at [the interview, work]
- told a lie to my [parents, boss, professor]
- told my parents a lie
- why did you tell me a lie!?
- what other lies have you told me?
- stop telling (me) lies
- don't tell lies
- is [always, forever] telling lies
- that's a lie!
- that has to be a lie!
- is just a pack of lies
- it was all lies!
- had been living a lie
- was a lie of omission
- UK: the lie of the land
- golf: the ball was in [good, bad, rough] lie
- UK: go [for, and have] a lie-down
- use a lie detector
- a lie detector test
- lie about your [name, job, age]
- lied to her [parents, friends]
- lie to the [press, police]
- lie on your [resume, application]
- lie and [cheat, deceive]
- lie [regularly, often, pathologically]
- lie your way out of trouble
- I [can't, cannot] lie
- [could, would, will] not lie (to you)
- how dare you lie (to me)
- lie down
- lay down and [went to sleep, fell asleep]
- (came and) lay down next to me
- lie on the [bed, sofa, couch]
- lying [on the, in] bed
- UK: lie in on [Sunday mornings, Saturdays, the weekend]
- archaic: lie with [a man, another woman]
'lay' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Ministry
- arm
- blame
- blanket
- carpet
- cement
- cemetery
- concrete
- copper
- cork
- cornerstone
- couch
- cracker
- dinner
- feast
- foundation
- graveyard
- ground
- house
- lay of the land
- lie
- mall
- mass
- metal
- newsletter
- out
- pillow
- pitch
- plank
- potential
- prone
- raft
- railway
- rat
- reed
- relax
- righteous
- roof
- rug
- scaffolding
- setting
- shag
- sheet
- shingle
- sill
- slab
- slate
- snare
- sofa
- sunshine