lay something aside

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay something aside" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that you are putting something down or temporarily setting it apart for later use or consideration. Example: "For now, let's lay our differences aside and focus on the task at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Underneath that notion, though, lies something darker.

The New York Times - Arts

Behind the rather bloodless language lies something more disturbing.

Independent

But beneath that scaffolding lies something far more ancient.

BBC

They put something aside, take out the insurance plan, pay off some of the mortgage when they have something spare.

Independent

Thanks to what, in hindsight, has proven disastrously lax regulation, banks did not then have to lay aside capital in case something went wrong.

The Economist

Probably lay them aside against a turning of the tide.

The New Yorker

"So, whatever thing they had, lay it aside, because it's about Ferguson.

Huffington Post

Cut them out and lay them aside.

WikiHow

Then, lay them aside to cool.

WikiHow

Take 2 graham crackers and lay them aside.

WikiHow

Take out any floor mats and lay them aside.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lay something aside" when you want to emphasize a temporary pause or postponement, suggesting that the item will be revisited later. For example, "Let's lay our differences aside and work together on this project."

Common error

A common mistake is confusing "lay" (to place something down) with "lie" (to recline). "Lay" requires a direct object, while "lie" does not. Incorrect: "I'm going to lie my book aside." Correct: "I'm going to lay my book aside."

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "lay something aside" functions as a directive, indicating the action of postponing or disregarding something temporarily. It is commonly used to suggest setting aside differences or problems for the sake of progress.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Wiki

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Academia

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Less common in

Science

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Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lay something aside" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb used to indicate the act of temporarily postponing or disregarding something. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is currently rare based on the available data. Semantically related phrases include "set something aside" and "put something on hold". When using this phrase, be mindful of the potential confusion between "lay" and "lie". Although not frequent, this phrasal verb maintains its grammatical correctness and semantic relevance. It functions both as a directive and to encourage cooperation by setting temporary obstacles aside.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set something aside

Changes the verb from "lay" to "set", offering a slightly more common alternative with the same core meaning.

put something on hold

Replaces "lay aside" with "put on hold", emphasizing the temporary suspension of something.

table something

Uses "table" as a verb, meaning to postpone discussion or consideration of something.

defer something

Focuses on postponing an action or decision to a later time.

shelve something

Implies putting something aside, often with the implication of indefinite postponement.

suspend something

Highlights the temporary interruption of something.

hold something in abeyance

Emphasizes a state of temporary inactivity or suspension.

postpone something

Directly indicates delaying something to a future date.

disregard something for now

Indicates temporary ignoring of something in present context.

cease considering something

Focuses on stopping the thought on an item, usually temporary.

FAQs

How do I use "lay something aside" in a sentence?

The phrase "lay something aside" is used to indicate setting something apart, either physically or figuratively, for future use or consideration. For example, "Let's "lay aside" our disagreements for the moment and focus on finding a solution."

What can I say instead of "lay something aside"?

You can use alternatives like "set something aside", "put something on hold", or "table something" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "lay something aside" or "lie something aside"?

"Lay something aside" is the correct phrase. "Lay" means to place something down, while "lie" means to recline. Therefore, you "lay" an object aside.

What's the difference between "lay something aside" and "set something aside"?

Both phrases are very similar. "Lay something aside" and "set something aside" both mean to put something to the side temporarily. "Set something aside" is more frequently used in modern English.