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What does “get the lay of the land” mean?

Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.

C1

To understand the basic layout or situation of a new place

“Give yourself a day just to get the lay of the land.”

From the C1 lesson Jet Lag and Culture Shock (travel idioms).

Quick check

What does “get the lay of the land” mean?

Teaching this phrase?“get the lay of the land” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
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