lay the table

lay the table

To place and arrange things to be used while eating a meal, such as plates, utensils, glasses, napkins, etc.; to set the table. Janie, would you please lay the table? We'll be ready to eat shortly.
See also: lay, table
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • set the table
  • artillery
  • do the dishes
  • make (one's) peace with (someone or something)
  • make one's peace with
  • make peace with
  • make peace with (someone or something)
  • make peace with somebody
  • propose a toast
  • fork
References in classic literature
Sally came in to lay the table, and Philip began to chaff her.
Of Human Bondage
A moment later, as I started down the companion stairs to lay the table for dinner, I heard him loudly curing some men amidships.
The Sea Wolf
Ransome was at the sideboard preparing to lay the table for the first sea dinner of the passage.
The Shadow Line
A horrid rattling of knives and forks sounded outside the door, and the footman came in to lay the table for luncheon.
The Moonstone
The butler will be in charge of the student's staff, who will be expected to open doors for her whenever possible, and footmen will serve meals, lay the table and clean.
Indian billionaire hiring 12 staff to help daughter study at UK university
CHILDREN should be able to tie shoelaces at eight, lay the table at nine and be trusted with a front-door key at 14, a study claims.
Parents have progress all mapped out
| Never lay the table ever again Why lay the table when you can stick a week's-worth of cutlery in the middle of the table in a glass jar for everyone to take their own?
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NEVER LAY THE TABLE EVER AGAIN Why lay the table when you can stick a week'sworth of cutlery in the middle of the table in a glass jar for everyone to take their own?
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1 NEVER LAY THE TABLE AGAIN Why lay the table when you can stick a week's worth of cutlery in the middle in a glass jar for everyone to take their own?
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Lay the table the day before, and have any dishes of nibbles filled and covered with cling film.
Monica's top tips for Christmas dinner; KITCHENMasterchef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti tells us how she makes her festive family dinner relaxed, fun and utterly delicious
Billy arrived early for the breakfast and Nat told him he could help lay the table while they waited for Hugo Hare, since the breakfast was not ready yet.
Billy the Goat's Big Breakfast
celebrity is absurd in so many ways" Actor Dominic West "I used to make him lay the table too until I realised one day, once all the guests were already seated, that the reason I didn't recognise the tablecloth was because he'd laid all the places on top of a checked duvet cover" Sarah Brown on her husband the Prime Minister "I have any number of paunchy, male greying friends in their mid-forties who have played the field for so long that they fail to notice that they are on the clearance shelf" Rowan Pelling, co-founder of The Erotic Review "As a Freeman of the City of London, I am entitled to stroll about the place with my sword unsheathed.
They said what?
LAY the table, light the fire, all stand for trumpet blast,
Reader's poem
One week we will be 'paying the Victorian wages', and on another learning to lay the table and fold napkins and on another making Victorian cards.
WALES: Popular Victorian fun days return
Valley Design says there is no longer a need to lay the table on its back and fold the legs--no more bending, kneeling and stooping with Nester.
Storage system Nester