to lay in
3
4.0
- phrasal verb
- /leɪ ɪn/
- We need to lay in sufficient firewood for the winter.
Examples
-
Pottery and valuables had been left on the floors, and bushels of burned corn still lay in the storerooms.
Academic text (2003) -
- Lay in some vodka and vermouth for me.
-
We'll lay in canned goods.
-
When we have done that, we set our wheat and barley, put up houses and lay in firewood.
-
Let me know when you're coming again, Mom, and I'll lay in some assorted cakes.
-
You'll also find we've laid in all the equipment you'll need for the job…
-
Before the storm hit, they laid in extra supplies of food and water.
-
It is wise to lay in a few essential items before going on a long trip.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To store something for later use
485
1.0
To put something away to use later
19
4.9
Put something in a hidden place to use later
5
2.1
Keep or save something for future use
2
4.7
To save money or keep goods for later
1
6.7
To save money little by little to use later
1
3.9
To put things in a safe place for later use
1
3.5
Save money for future use
Put money or things aside in a safe place to use later
Antonyms
How Much
Surface Forms
Morphology
There is a clear link between 'lay' (to put/place) and 'in' (into/inside), so the idea of placing items into storage is derivable from the parts. However, the extended sense that includes procuring or stocking up (i.e. obtaining and storing for future use) is a conventionalized phrasal-verb meaning that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so learners may need exposure.
Etymology
Lay in comes from the simple image of putting things into storage: to lay (place) something in a cupboard or cellar. So it came to mean 'to get and keep supplies for later use'.