Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

lay sb out

(HIT) informal phrasal verb with lay
 
 
/leɪ/ verb (laid)

Definition

to hit someone so hard that they fall down and become unconscious: Harrison was laid out for several minutes by a blow to the head.Hitting and beatingPunishing by causing pain
(Definition of lay sb out (HIT) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

come rain or shine

whatever happens

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More