to organize, explain, or plan something clearly, often step by step.
She laid out her plan for the new project during the meeting.
A: Can you lay out what we need to do for the assignment? B: Sure, first we research, then we write the report, and finally we present.
In my opinion, it's important to lay out your main arguments before you start writing an essay.
Common mistake
✗He laid out clearly his argument.
✓He laid out his argument clearly. / He laid his argument out clearly.
Keep 'lay out' together before the object, or put the adverb at the end — not between.
Tell it apart
She laid out the plan for us.
explained it clearly
She laid out the tools on the bench.
spread them out
Use 'lay out' when you want to talk about explaining your ideas, plans, or steps in a clear way.'Lay out' can mean to explain or organize, while 'set out' often means to start a journey or task.
to put objects or items in a neat way so that each one is easy to see or use.
He laid out all his tools on the table before starting work.
A: Why are your clothes all over the bed? B: I'm just laying them out so I can decide what to wear.
Before my trip, I always lay out everything I need to pack to make sure I don't forget anything.
Common mistake
✗I laid out them on the bed.
✓I laid them out on the bed.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'lay them out'.
Tell it apart
He laid the maps out on the floor.
spread them out
He laid out the plan.
explained it
Use 'lay out' when you want to talk about spreading things out on a surface, like clothes or papers.'Lay out' means to arrange things so you can see them, while 'put away' means to store things out of sight.
to spend a significant amount of money on something, often more than expected or with some reluctance.
I had to lay out nearly £2,000 for car repairs last month.
A: Did you really lay out all that cash for a new phone? B: I know, but my old one finally died and I needed it for work.
Some people are unwilling to lay out large sums on insurance, believing it to be unnecessary until a problem arises.
Common mistake
✗I laid out £500 for the car.
✓I laid out £500 on the car.
'Lay out + amount + ON something' (not 'for').
Tell it apart
I laid out a fortune on it.
spent a lot
I laid out the parts on the table.
spread them out
'Lay out' in this sense is informal and typically used in spoken English to emphasise the amount of money spent, often when it feels like a lot or is unexpected. Avoid in formal writing; use 'spend' or 'invest' instead.Unlike the B1 sense ('spread things out') and the B2 sense ('arrange or plan'), this sense is figurative and refers specifically to spending money, not to physical arrangement or planning.