1 C1 idiomatic informal
To hide and wait in order to ambush or confront someone.
"The gang was laying for him outside the bar, planning to settle the score."
inseparable
lay for
C1 informal inseparable transitive
To hide and wait in ambush for someone, usually with hostile or mischievous intent.
In plain English
Hide somewhere and wait for someone to come so you can catch or surprise them.
What does "lay for" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To lay (position yourself) in readiness for someone.
Actually means
Hide somewhere and wait for someone to come so you can catch or surprise them.
Usage tip
Chiefly American English, informal to colloquial. Carries a connotation of planned aggression or trickery. Less common in British English. Found in crime fiction and regional American speech.
Words that pair with "lay for"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ambush trap enemy victim corner alley
How to conjugate "lay for"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lay for
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lays for
he/she/it
Past simple
laid for
yesterday
Past participle
laid for
have + pp
-ing form
laying for
continuous
Hear "lay for" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lay for" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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