lay out — spend money
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+informalrare
to spend a significant amount of money on something, often more than expected or with some reluctance.
Say it like a native
Textbook I had to expend a considerable sum on repairs.
Native I had to lay out a fortune on repairs.
'Lay out' (informal) means fork out money. 'Expend a considerable sum' is formal.
Pattern: lay out (money) (on/for something)
In use
- I had to lay out nearly £2,000 for car repairs last month.money
- Some people are unwilling to lay out large sums on insurance, believing it to be unnecessary until a problem arises.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I laid out £500 for the car.
✓ I laid out £500 on the car.
'Lay out + amount + ON something' (not 'for').
Common collocations
lay out + on— a fortune, £500, good money, on repairs
Don't confuse it
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.
Related
- lay out (arrange or plan something) — 'lay out' also has the more basic meaning 'arrange or plan something'; this is the advanced sense.