Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding the Phrasal Verb 'Lay Low'

"To lay low is to find strength within the shadows, waiting for the right moment to rise with wisdom and power."

📖 Definition

"Lay low" means to keep a low profile or avoid attracting attention, often in order to wait for a suitable moment to act or avoid trouble.

Examples in context

The manager laid low after the company's financial scandal broke out.
Despite the threats, the journalist decided to lay low for safety reasons.
After his controversial speech, the politician chose to lay low for a few weeks.

📖 Definition

"Lay low" means to keep a low profile or avoid attracting attention, often in order to wait for a suitable moment to act or avoid trouble.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Cannot be split by other words.

Informal

Commonly used in everyday, casual speech.

Transitive

Does not require a direct object.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	lay low	He prefers to lay low after the scandal.
Past Simple	laid low	She laid low until the rumors subsided.
Present Continuous	laying low	They are laying low to avoid further controversy.
Present Perfect	have laid low	We have laid low ever since the incident occurred.

💡 When to Use

Avoiding attention

Use it when someone needs to stay unnoticed to avoid trouble or exposure in precarious situations.

Example: "Let's lay low until things calm down."

Waiting for opportunity

When strategizing, one might lay low to wait for the right moment to act or speak.

Example: "He decided to lay low until the perfect deal emerged."

Personal recovery

Someone may choose to lay low to recover from embarrassment, failure, or injury before returning to normal activities.

Example: "After the defeat, she laid low before planning her comeback."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect verb tense

❌ Wrong: He layed low after the event.

✅ Correct: He laid low after the event.

💡 Tip: Remember that the past tense of 'lay' is 'laid,' not 'layed.'

Separation error

❌ Wrong: Lay low the rumors today.

✅ Correct: Lay low until the rumors subside.

💡 Tip: Don't separate 'lay' and 'low'.

Formal usage

❌ Wrong: He will lay low during the formal proceedings.

✅ Correct: He will avoid attracting attention during the formal proceedings.

💡 Tip: Use context-appropriate phrases in formal settings.

Practice

LAY LOW - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

The manager laid low after the company's financial scandal broke out.
Urban Car Dwelling
2
Listen to example

Despite the threats, the journalist decided to lay low for safety reasons.
Urban Car Dwelling
3
Listen to example

After his controversial speech, the politician chose to lay low for a few weeks.
Urban Car Dwelling

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

keep a low profile stay out of sight

Antonyms

stand out

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"During the investigation, he decided to ___ to avoid unwanted attention."

lap low

lay low

law low

lay slow

In Context

During the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre initially laid low to avoid political scrutineers. As tensions mounted, Robespierre saw the chance to rise within the political structure and took it, subsequently playing a significant role in the Reign of Terror. Despite his rising influence, enemies within the political sphere began plotting against him. Robespierre, aware of the dangers, laid low to avoid confrontation. However, he was unable to maintain his low profile indefinitely as his radical policies and increasing paranoia alienated allies. As the revolutionary government shifted, Robespierre’s dominant, controversial role became unsustainable. In fear of reprisals, he attempted once more to lay low, avoiding public appearances and speeches. Ultimately, it was too late; his enemies orchestrated his arrest. Facing the mounting tide of opposition, he couldn’t lay low any longer. On July 28, 1794, Robespierre was executed by guillotine, marking a turning point in the Revolution. His attempts to lay low had proven futile against the inexorable wheel of political change.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Lay Low

What is the origin of lay low?

The phrase 'lay low' originates from the 16th-century English, combining 'lay,' meaning to place oneself, and 'low,' signifying keeping away from sight or attention. It epitomizes a strategic retreat or discretion during sensitive times.

Can lay low be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Lay low' is predominantly used in informal contexts due to its casual tone. In formal writing or speech, phrases like 'maintain a low profile' are more appropriate as they convey the same idea with greater formality.

What is the difference between lay low and keep a low profile?

While both phrases mean avoiding attention, 'lay low' often implies doing so temporarily for strategic reasons, while 'keep a low profile' suggests a more consistent avoidance of attention, often to emphasize discretion.

Browse All Urban Car Dwelling Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

LAY LOW - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Lay Low

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega