lay aside
B2Neutral to formal; common in written and spoken English.
Definition
Meaning
To put something down or away, to stop using it temporarily, often with the intention of returning to it later.
To decide not to use or consider something for the present; to give up a habit or feeling; to save or reserve something, especially money, for future use.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A phrasal verb that often implies deliberate, conscious action and a temporary or conditional suspension, not a permanent abandonment. It can apply to physical objects, abstract concepts (doubts, feelings), and financial resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. "Set aside" is a very common synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal than 'put away'. In financial contexts, 'lay aside' is interchangeable with 'set aside' or 'put aside' in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJECT + lay aside + OBJECT (concrete or abstract)SUBJECT + lay aside + OBJECT + for + PURPOSE/TIMEVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lay aside one's differences (to stop arguing and cooperate)”
- “Lay aside all earthly cares (literary/religious)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company decided to lay aside 10% of profits for R&D."
Academic
"The researcher laid aside her initial hypothesis after reviewing the new data."
Everyday
"I need to lay aside this knitting to answer the door."
Technical
"Lay aside the main valve tool before activating the secondary system."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She laid aside the newspaper and made a cup of tea.
- We must lay aside our disagreements for the good of the team.
- He tries to lay aside a few pounds each month.
American English
- He laid aside the legal brief to take a call.
- Let's lay aside our personal feelings and focus on the facts.
- They laid aside money for their kids' college fund.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please lay aside your toys. It's dinner time.
- I laid aside my book when the phone rang.
- Can you lay aside that report for a moment? I need your help.
- We should lay aside some money for our holiday.
- The two politicians agreed to lay aside their differences to pass the new law.
- She laid aside her career to focus on her family.
- The committee decided to lay aside the controversial proposal until more data was available.
- He had to lay aside deeply ingrained prejudices to work effectively with the new team.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically LAYing a book ASIDE on a table. You're not throwing it away; it's just temporarily out of your hands.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS/ACTIONS ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE PHYSICALLY PLACED SOMEWHERE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "лечь в сторону". Это неправильно. "Lay" здесь переходный глагол (положить), а не "лежать".
- Часто соответствует русским "отложить (в сторону)", "оставить", "приберечь".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lie aside' (incorrect – 'lay' is transitive).
- Confusing it with 'lay down' (which can mean establish a rule or physically place).
- Using it to mean permanent disposal (e.g., 'I laid aside my old car' sounds odd for 'sold/scrapped').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'lay aside' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'lay the book aside' or 'lay aside the book'.
The past tense is 'laid aside'. Remember: lay (present) - laid (past) - laid (past participle).
'Put away' often implies storing something in its proper place (like in a cupboard). 'Lay aside' simply means to put it down and stop using it, often temporarily, with no specific implication about where it goes.
Absolutely. It's very common for abstract nouns like 'differences', 'prejudices', 'doubts', 'feelings', and 'worries'.