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."
inseparable
lay about
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
To strike out vigorously in all directions, hitting people or things around you.
In plain English
To hit and swing at everything around you, like someone in a fight who is hitting in all directions.
What does "lay about" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To 'lay' (deal out) blows 'about' (all around you) in every direction.
Actually means
To hit and swing at everything around you, like someone in a fight who is hitting in all directions.
Usage tip
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'.
Words that pair with "lay about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stick sword fists cane wildly vigorously
How to conjugate "lay about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "lay about" in the wild
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Other ways to say "lay about"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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