to see how the land lies
1see how the land lies — To find out in advance how matters stand • • • Main Entry: ↑land * * * find out/see/how the land lies phrase to find out about a situation before deciding what to do You should see how the land lies before going into business on your own …
2see how the land lies — {v. phr.}, {informal} To reconnoiter; investigate. * /Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what./ Compare: CASE THE JOINT …
3see how the land lies — {v. phr.}, {informal} To reconnoiter; investigate. * /Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what./ Compare: CASE THE JOINT …
4see\ how\ the\ land\ lies — v. phr. informal To reconnoiter; investigate. Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what. Compare: case the joint …
5find see how the land lies — find out/see how the land lies to get information about a situation before making decisions or taking action. I thought I d better call my mother and see how the land lies before inviting myself home for the weekend …
6see how the land lies — see what the situation is, check out the circumstances …
7how the land lies — what the state of affairs is let s keep it to ourselves until we see how the land lies * * * how the land lies chiefly Brit : the true facts about a situation Let s see how the land lies before we make any decisions. We don t know how the land… …
8how\ the\ land\ lies — • lay of the land • how the land lies n. phr. 1. the natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land. 2. the way something is arranged; the important… …
9find out how the land lies — find out/see/how the land lies phrase to find out about a situation before deciding what to do You should see how the land lies before going into business on your own. Thesaurus: to find out informationsynonym Main entry …
10find out how the land lies — find out/see how the land lies to get information about a situation before making decisions or taking action. I thought I d better call my mother and see how the land lies before inviting myself home for the weekend …
