lay your work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay your work" is not correct in standard English; the correct phrase is "lay down your work" or "lay your work down." You can use it when instructing someone to put their work aside or to stop working temporarily.
Example: "After a long day, it's important to lay your work down and take a break."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lay your work area with paper towels to make cleaning up easier.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Think not rashly to lay your thievish hands upon my works.

The Guardian

Spread a soft, clean towel across your flat work surface, then gently lay your iMac face down on the towel.

WikiHow

Take an old newspaper that you can lay on your work space.

WikiHow

Concentrate and lay out your work so it shows you know what to do.

WikiHow

It's way smarter to cheat with a total stranger, using a fake name and lying about your work and where you live.

Vice

Lay out your working area.

WikiHow

Take out a roll of baking parchment and lay it on your work surface.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Finally, roll it out flat like a sheet and lay it on your work surface.

Huffington Post

It might be easiest to do this with the gun lying flat on your work surface.

WikiHow

It's very important to tell the truth; don't lie or exaggerate your work experience.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to suggest someone to stop working, use the correct expression "lay down your work" or alternatives like "set aside your work".

Common error

A frequent mistake is confusing "lay" and "lie". "Lay" requires a direct object (e.g. "lay the book down"), while "lie" does not (e.g. "I lie down to rest"). Remember to use "lay down your work", not "lie down your work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay your work" is intended to function as a directive, instructing someone to put down or stop working on something. However, according to Ludwig, the more grammatically sound and frequently used expression is "lay down your work".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "lay your work" might seem intuitive, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct phrasing is "lay down your work". This expression instructs someone to stop or pause their work. While examples exist across various contexts, the expression isn't very common. Therefore, it's advisable to use the grammatically accurate alternative or semantically similar phrases like "set aside your work" to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set aside your work

Suggests temporarily stopping work to focus on something else.

put down your work

Emphasizes the physical act of stopping work and setting it aside.

suspend your work

Implies a more formal or official pause in work.

cease your work

Indicates a complete and possibly permanent stop to the work.

interrupt your work

Highlights that the work is being stopped due to an external factor.

halt your work

Indicates an abrupt stop to the work, often due to an emergency or problem.

desist from your work

A formal way to ask someone to stop working, often used in legal or official contexts.

discontinue your work

Similar to "cease", but may imply a planned or scheduled stop.

take a break from your work

Suggests a temporary pause for rest or relaxation.

postpone your work

Indicates delaying the work to a later time.

FAQs

Is "lay your work" grammatically correct?

No, "lay your work" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing is "lay down your work" or "set aside your work".

What does "lay down your work" mean?

"Lay down your work" means to stop working temporarily, either to take a break or to finish for the day. Similar expressions include "set aside your work" and "put down your work".

Can I say "lie your work" instead of "lay your work"?

No, "lie" is an intransitive verb meaning to recline or rest. It does not take a direct object. "Lay" is a transitive verb that means to place something down. Therefore, the correct phrase is "lay down your work".

What are some alternatives to "lay down your work"?

Some alternatives to "lay down your work" include "set aside your work", "put down your work", "take a break from your work", and "suspend your work".