ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lay over

idiom
Meaning

To make an intermediary stop somewhere.


Examples
SIMPLE

We have to lay over in London for six hours.

CONTEXTUAL

Because there were no direct flights, we had to lay over in a small city before reaching our final destination.

COMPLEX

The long journey became even more exhausting when the airline forced us to lay over in an unfamiliar airport for the entire night.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a wild goose never laid a tame egg

    Most things are inherited and predetermined.

  2. 02

    best laid plans

    A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the ability to fully or even partially execute them is uncertain.

  3. 03

    kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

    To seek short-term gain at the sacrifice of long-term profit.

  4. 04

    lay a finger on

    To merely touch.

  5. 05

    lay an anchor to the windward

    To adopt precautionary or anticipatory measures for potential future success or security.

  6. 06

    lay an egg

    To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.

  7. 07

    lay at someone's door

    To blame (a problem) on someone; to hold someone responsible for (something).

  8. 08

    lay by the heels

    To fetter, to shackle; to imprison.

Last updated April 17, 2026