the lay of the land

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So investors may have been waiting to evaluate the lay of the land.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

UFC production chief Craig Borsari has already visited the White House five times to get the lay of the land and is in contact with the Secret Service.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

It really gives you the lay of the land.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2025

"Then you kind of know the lay of the land and where the hazards are," he said.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2024

“We need to get the lay of the land before we let you go off by yourself,” her dad said.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman