lay of the land | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)The physical characteristics of theterrainorsurroundingnaturalenvironment.1857,Henry David Thoreau, chapter 1, inCanoeing In The Wilderness:I did not know the exact route, but steered by thelay of the land, as I do in Boston.1910,Joseph A. Altsheler, chapter 9, inThe Riflemen of the Ohio:He noted well the locality, the trees, and thelay of the land.1919,Upton Sinclair, chapter 10, inJimmie Higgins[…], Pasadena, Calif.: Upton Sinclair,→OCLC:Because he knew thelay of the land, he could run faster in the darkness than his pursuer.; (idiomatic)Thetrends,feelings,intentions, and other factorsinfluencingastrategic,political, orsocialsituation.1901,Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 17, inThe Marrow of Tradition:I'll feel the pulse of my friends and yours, and when we get thelay of the land, the affair can be accomplished much more easily.1907,Gene Stratton-Porter, chapter 11, inAt the Foot of the Rainbow:"Now look here, Mary," he said, "I've been expecting you. I warn you before you begin that I cannot sanction your marriage to a Protestant.""Oh, but I'm going to convart him!" cried Mary so quickly that the priest laughed harder than ever."So that's thelay of the land!" he chuckled. "Well, if you'll guarantee that, I'll give in."1908,John Fox Jr., chapter 4, inThe Trail of the Lonesome Pine:She saw the boy's glance, she shifted her knees impatiently and her little face grew sullen. Hale smiled inwardly, for he thought he could already see thelay of the land, and he wondered that, at such an age, such fierceness could be.1983July 22, Janet Maslin, “‘Liquid Sky,’ High Fashion and a U.F.O.”, inThe New York Times‎[1],→ISSN:Slava Tsukerman is a Soviet émigré who has lived in New York City since 1976, apparently long enough for him to get thelay of the land.2002March 29,Douglas Waller, “McCain: After Finance Reform, What?”, inTime:McCain: I want to see what thelay of the landis after the November elections.

Examples:

EN: I thought maybe I'd look over the place. And get the lay of the land.
ES: He pensado que quizás podría echar un vistazo al lugar y tantear el terreno.
EN: Then he can see the lay of the land.
ES: Ya veremos qué pasa.
EN: You know, just to get the lay of the land.
ES: Hay que tasar el terreno.
EN: I was just trying to get the lay of the land.
ES: Trataba de ver el estado de las cosas.
EN: If I could slip ashore, I could sneak into Frihaven and find out the lay of the land.
ES: Si pudiera llevarme a tierra, entraría en Frihaven para comprobar el terreno.
EN: I had to get some help to find out the lay of the land.
ES: Necesitaba alguna ayuda para entender el mapa.
EN: "As I talked, I surveyed the lay of the land.
ES: A la vez que hablaba examinaba con atención el terreno donde iba a librar mi último asalto.
EN: Don't you think it's a good idea to learn the lay of the land?
ES: ¿No cree que es buena idea comenzar por las costumbres del lugar?
EN: The lay of the land, the position of the sun, the direction of the wind...
ES: Así que he examinado la topografía, el ángulo del Sol y la dirección del viento.
EN: Doesn't it give you the lay of the land?
ES: Bien, le llega o no le llega el mensaje.
EN: Oh, yes. It gives me the lay of the land.
ES: Oh si, me llega el mensaje.
EN: Oh you know, checkin' the lay of the land.
ES: - Admirábamos el terreno.
EN: First, we gotta get the lay of the land, then the victim.
ES: Hay que tantear el terreno y luego conseguir a la víctima.
EN: Sort of get the lay of the land.
ES: Para conocer el terreno.
EN: And these four young men were taken by the Germans. Early that morning, they followed the less snowy train tracks checked out the lay of the land and headed to our cottage, thinking they'd get us all.
ES: Esa mañana temprano, siguieron las vías del tren menos nevadas comprobado el estado del terreno se encaminaron hacia nuestra cabaña, pensando que nos pillarían a todos.

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