Meaning & use
get laid
Last updated
UK/ˌɡet ˈleɪd/
US/ˌɡet ˈleɪd/
Usage warning: this word is vulgar. It can hurt or insult people. Learn to recognise it, but avoid using it about anyone.
Meaning
phraseintransitiveinformalvulgar
To have sex with someone, especially when seen as an achievement or casual encounter.
Grammar: No object: He got laid last night. You cannot say 'get laid someone'.
Patterns
- get laid
- get someone laid
He boasted about getting laid on his vacation.
They were both hoping to get laid at the party.
She joked that she needed to get laid to relax.
Word forms
| third person singular | gets laid |
|---|---|
| past tense | got laid |
| past participle | gotten laid |
| -ing form | getting laid |
Common combinations
- get laid tonight
- He was hoping to get laid tonight.
- get someone laid
- His friends tried to get him laid.
- finally get laid
- After months of dating, they finally got laid.
Synonyms and how they differ
- have sex
- Neutral and much more acceptable in polite conversation; it does not carry the casual or boastful tone of 'get laid'.
- hook up
- Informal and can mean various sexual activities, not necessarily full intercourse; less direct than 'get laid'.
- score
- Slang and often used among men to mean successfully getting sex; similar in tone but less explicit.
Commonly confused: get laid or get laid off?
get laid vs get laid off
This means to lose your job, not to have sex. The addition of 'off' completely changes the meaning.
Practice
What does 'get laid' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Get laid' is an informal expression for having sex. 'Get laid off' means to lose your job, 'lie down' is literal, and 'get married' is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “get laid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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