The phrasal verb "lay aside" means to put something down or aside, often to temporarily stop using something so that it can be used later, or to disregard something for a time. It is frequently used in both written and spoken contexts but might appear more often in written contexts, especially in formal writing, such as literature, legal documents, or instructional texts.
"Lay aside" is moderately common in English and is often used in various contexts, including everyday conversation and writing.
I decided to lay aside my doubts and trust in his experience.
Decidí dejar de lado mis dudas y confiar en su experiencia.
She asked if I could lay aside some money for our upcoming trip.
Ella preguntó si podría apartar algo de dinero para nuestro próximo viaje.
During the meeting, he urged the team to lay aside their differences and work together.
Durante la reunión, instó al equipo a dejar de lado sus diferencias y trabajar juntos.
While "lay aside" is not directly part of many idiomatic expressions, it conveys similarly in sentiment to several idiomatic phrases about abandonment or neglecting trivial issues for a greater purpose. Here are some idiomatic expressions in related contexts:
Lay aside one's arms
The soldiers were told to lay aside their arms and embrace peace.
A los soldados se les dijo que dejaran sus armas y abrazaran la paz.
Lay aside any reservations
Before joining the team, you should lay aside any reservations you have about traveling.
Antes de unirte al equipo, deberías poner de lado cualquier reserva que tengas sobre viajar.
Lay aside differences
It's essential to lay aside differences and unite for a common goal.
Es esencial dejar de lado las diferencias y unirse por un objetivo común.
Lay it on the line
He always lays it on the line when discussing project expectations.
Siempre dice las cosas tal como son cuando se trata de las expectativas del proyecto.
The term "lay aside" combines the verb "lay," which comes from Old English "lecgan," meaning 'to put down' or 'to place,' and "aside," which derives from the combination of "a-" (from) and "side," meaning 'to one side.' Its metaphorical meaning evolved, suggesting the act of setting something to rest.