the lay of the land

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

the ˌlay of the ˈland idiom
(NAmE) (BrE the ˌlie of the ˈland)
1. the way the land in an area is formed and what physical characteristics it has
2. the way a situation is now and how it is likely to develop
Main entry: ↑lay_idiom