The British English equivalent of the American phrase 'lay of the land' — meaning the current situation, how things stand, or the practical reality of a given circumstance. Before making a move, you survey the lie of the land: who's in charge, what tensions exist, what opportunities are open. It's a phrase that emphasises reading a situation carefully before acting, and it crosses over from military origins into business, politics, and everyday problem-solving.
She spent her first week in the new office just getting a feel for the lie of the land before suggesting any changes.
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(British) lay of the land.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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