layaway

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableAmericanbusiness

   A way of buying in which a store holds an item for you while you pay for it in small amounts, and you take it home only after the last payment.

   Grammar: Often used with on or in: put a coat on layaway.

   Patterns

   • put something on layaway
   • buy something on layaway

   She put the winter coat on layaway in October.

   The store offers layaway for holiday gifts.

   He bought his guitar on layaway over six months.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounAmericanbusiness

   Connected with this kind of buying plan.

   Grammar: Comes before the noun: a layaway plan.

   Patterns

   • a layaway plan

   The layaway plan has no interest, but there is a small fee.

   Many families used layaway programs to pay for toys.

Common combinations

put something on layaway

I put the bike on layaway for my nephew.

layaway plan

The layaway plan lets you pay over twelve weeks.

pay off layaway

She paid off her layaway just before the holidays.

layaway account

The shop keeps a layaway account for each customer.

layaway fee

There is a small layaway fee if you cancel.

Synonyms and how they differ

installment plan

With an installment plan you usually take the goods home at once, whereas layaway keeps them until fully paid.

hire purchase

Hire purchase is the British term where you receive the goods immediately and pay later.

deposit scheme

A deposit scheme may hold goods for a deposit, but does not always require several payments.

Opposites

Word family

lay away phrasal verb

to set aside an item until it is paid for

layaway plan noun

the arrangement itself

Commonly confused: layaway or layover?

Practice

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