make a lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a lay" is not correct and does not have a clear meaning in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression, and without context, it is difficult to determine when it could be used. Example: "I need to make a lay on this project, but I'm not sure how to proceed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

For Mr. Olayos, friendship is as important a lesson as how to make a lay up or play defense.

The New York Times

At a typical community outreach event, the PI, recruitment coordinator, or a study group member would make a lay presentation on the subject of diabetes and pre-diabetes and provide background on the POP-ABC study, followed by a question-and-answer session.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Political victory doesn't make a bad policy good; it doesn't make a lie the truth.

The New York Times

OTT: Breakfasts so giant they make a lie-down more appealing than the ski slopes - bacon, eggs, muffins, burritos, pancakes omelettes, and so on.

The Guardian - Travel

There was talk last year of a major Oh Sees hiatus; but this new album and plenty of live dates this summer would seem to make a lie of such a notion.

The Guardian - Music

Much has been made of that anonymity and also of the fact that the officiating team have not even been named yet, even though that does not necessarily make a lie of the claim, despite many insisting that.

The Guardian - Sport

But even if that happens, it won't make a lie anything other than a lie.

TechCrunch

I could have raised ― and with more legitimacy than what [the Republicans] were doing ― but it would make a lie of everything I fought for.

Huffington Post

Lie only if you need to, and make a lie uncheckable.

WikiHow

Other women make a bed, lay a tablecloth or straighten up.

The New York Times - Arts

Don't let the farrier make a donkey lay down for hoof-care; this upsets the donkey and is unnecessary.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and precision, consider alternative phrases like "make a bet", "make a claim", or "offer a suggestion" instead of using the ambiguous phrase "make a lay".

Common error

Refrain from using the phrase "make a lay" in formal writing or professional communication. It may lead to misinterpretations due to its lack of standardized meaning and limited usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a lay" functions as a verb phrase, where "make" acts as a light verb requiring a noun phrase complement. However, the usage of "lay" in this context is ambiguous, making the overall function unclear, as noted by Ludwig AI. While there are existing examples, they appear with low frequency.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make a lay" is not a standard or widely recognized English expression. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its intended meaning is often unclear and context-dependent. Grammatically, it functions as a verb phrase, but the specific meaning of "lay" is ambiguous, causing potential misinterpretations. When clarity and precision are essential, opting for alternative phrases like "make a bet", "make a claim", or "offer a suggestion" is recommended to avoid confusion. Its usage is infrequent and mostly confined to general online content and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a bet

Replaces "lay" with "bet", implying a wager or gamble.

make a prediction

Substitutes "lay" with "prediction", suggesting a forecast or anticipation of a future event.

make an assertion

Replaces "lay" with "assertion", implying a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.

make a claim

Changes "lay" to "claim", indicating a declaration of something as a fact.

present an argument

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal expression for offering a reasoned case.

offer a suggestion

Replaces the phrase with a softer, more tentative expression of an idea.

put forward a proposal

Replaces the phrase with a more formal way of introducing a plan or suggestion.

table a motion

Replaces the phrase with specific procedural term, meaning to formally present a motion for consideration.

set forth a thesis

Substitutes the phrase with more elevated vocabulary to declare a central argument, common in academic contexts.

articulate a position

Replaces the phrase with a more precise phrasing, suggesting the action of expressing a stance or point of view clearly.

FAQs

What does the phrase "make a lay" mean?

The phrase "make a lay" is not a standard or commonly recognized English expression. Its meaning can be unclear without additional context, and it's best to use alternative, more precise phrases depending on the intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "make a lay"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "make a bet", "make a claim", "offer a suggestion", or "present an argument". Choose the phrase that best fits your intended meaning.

Is "make a lay" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "make a lay" is not a common or well-defined phrase in English. It is advisable to use more conventional expressions to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.

How can I use "make a lay" in a sentence?

Given that "make a lay" lacks a consistent definition, it's preferable to rephrase your sentence using more standard expressions. For instance, instead of "I need to make a lay on this project", try "I need to "make a claim" about this project" or "I need to "offer a suggestion" about this project".