difficult to lay to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to lay to" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and may not convey a clear meaning without additional context. Example: "It is difficult to lay to rest the concerns raised by the community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The leave campaign knows all this as it continues to conjure up demons that will be difficult to lay to rest.

The Guardian - Opinion

First, there is the obvious difficulty that skepticism about God's existence is at least as difficult to lay to rest as skepticism about moral knowledge.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The answer, surely, is that Christianity is so overwhelmingly dominated by institutionalism that it is difficult to lay claim to a non-institutional Christian identity.

The Guardian - Opinion

This new law will make it difficult to lay claim to your images without some proactive preventive measures on your part.

The Guardian

Mr. Sciame said "it's always difficult" to lay people off, adding "We intend to hire them back".

The New York Times - Arts

It's always difficult to lay these things out with any certainty.

The New York Times

Rigid labour markets also mean that it's difficult to lay off workers.

The Economist

Contract positions "are created because it is so difficult to lay off regular workers here".

The New York Times

That marginalisation made it more difficult to lay the foundation for the achievement of future generations.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be difficult to lay the blame at the feet of the rookie goalkeeper Ryan Meara, who is now out injured, or his replacement Bill Gaudette.

The New York Times

The shadowy boundary between comedy and tragedy is repeatedly probed, as is the question of why, 400 years on, Shakespeare's ghost is so difficult to lay.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "difficult to lay to" with more common and accepted phrases such as "hard to attribute to" or "challenging to assign to" to improve clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to lay to" when you intend to express that something is hard to attribute or assign, as this phrasing is uncommon and may be perceived as grammatically incorrect. Always double-check your wording when discussing causation or assignment to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to lay to" functions as an adjective phrase attempting to describe the challenge of attributing or assigning something. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially incorrect. Examples in Ludwig show some use, but these are outweighed by the lack of clear grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to lay to" is an uncommon and potentially incorrect expression, as flagged by Ludwig AI. Although it appears in some news and scientific articles, its usage is limited, and more standard alternatives like "hard to attribute to" or "challenging to assign to" are generally recommended for improved clarity. The phrase attempts to convey the difficulty of attributing something, but its non-standard form can lead to confusion. When writing, prioritize clarity and opt for more widely accepted phrases to ensure your message is accurately understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to attribute to

Replaces "difficult to lay to" with a more standard phrase for assigning cause or responsibility.

challenging to assign to

Similar to 'hard to attribute to', but emphasizes the level of difficulty in assigning something.

difficult to ascribe to

Focuses on the difficulty in ascribing a quality or characteristic.

hard to impute to

Implies difficulty in attributing something negative or undesirable.

difficult to pin on

Suggests difficulty in placing blame or responsibility.

tough to connect with

Emphasizes difficulty in establishing a link or association.

hard to associate with

Focuses on the challenge of associating something with a particular cause or origin.

difficult to link to

Highlights the problem of forming a connection between two things.

hard to trace to

Emphasizes difficulty in following the origin or development of something.

difficult to place upon

Focuses on difficulty when assigning something onto something/someone else.

FAQs

What does "difficult to lay to" mean?

The phrase "difficult to lay to" is not a standard English expression. It seems to imply that something is hard to attribute or assign to something else. Consider using alternatives for better clarity.

How can I rephrase "difficult to lay to" for better clarity?

You can use alternatives like "hard to attribute to", "challenging to assign to", or "difficult to ascribe to" depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

Is "difficult to lay to rest" the same as "difficult to lay to"?

"Difficult to lay to rest" has a specific meaning related to resolving or ending something troublesome. In contrast, "difficult to lay to" alone is not a standard phrase and doesn't carry a clear meaning. Use "difficult to lay to rest" when discussing ending a problem.

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to lay to" in writing?

Given its uncommon usage and potential for misinterpretation, it's generally best to avoid "difficult to lay to" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more widely recognized phrases to ensure your message is accurately conveyed.