lay about
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To hit and swing at everything around you, like someone in a fight who is hitting in all directions.
Literal meaning: To 'lay' (deal out) blows 'about' (all around you) in every direction.
Meanings
1 C1 formal
To strike out vigorously with blows in all directions, hitting whatever is near.
"Cornered by his attackers, he laid about him with his walking stick."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Literary and somewhat archaic. Often encountered in older literature or dramatic descriptions of physical fights. Rarely used in contemporary everyday speech. Usually accompanied by 'with': 'lay about with a stick'.
Commonly used with
stick sword fists cane wildly vigorously
Forms
Base
lay about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lays about
he/she/it
Past simple
laid about
yesterday
Past participle
laid about
have + pp
-ing form
laying about
continuous
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Synonyms
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