Definition and pronunciation
get laid — informal/slang idiom meaning to have sex, often implying casual or bragging tone.
Pronounced /ɡɛt leɪd/ (get laid).
Easy explanation
Get laid is a casual way to say have sex. It’s common in jokes or bragging, but it can sound crude or disrespectful. Use neutral phrases like have sex or be intimate in polite or professional settings.
Part of speech and grammar
- Idiom: get + laid (past participle of lay).
- Intransitive core: He finally got laid.
- With partner: get laid with [someone] (informal).
- Aspect & tense: is getting laid / got laid / has gotten laid / never gets laid.
- Negation & modality: didn’t get laid; might get laid; trying to get laid.
- Avoid confusing with laid off (job loss) or laid-back (relaxed)—unrelated.
Register and tone
Informal, sometimes juvenile or boastful. Can be objectifying if used about a person as a “goal.” Fine in dialogue or casual conversation; avoid in formal, academic, or workplace writing.
Connection to sexuality
Yes—directly. Get laid unambiguously refers to having sex between consenting adults.
Common collocations
- finally get laid, trying to get laid, get laid tonight/this weekend
- get laid with [someone], get laid after [event]
- never/rarely get laid, help me get laid (crude)
- just trying to get laid (motivation; dismissive)
Idioms and related set phrases
- get lucky — euphemistic near-synonym.
- get some — casual/slang for having sex.
- score — boastful slang for sexual success.
- sleep with / hook up with / make love — common alternatives with different tones.
Prepositions and nuance
- with [someone] — names the partner: He got laid with his ex.
- after / during / on [occasion] — timing: got laid after prom.
- at / in [place] — location: got laid at a hotel.
- for [reason/motive] — He only texted for the purpose of getting laid (derogatory).
- without [sexual activity] — absence: went months without getting laid.
- Forms like got laid by [someone] sound objectifying and are best avoided.
Word comparisons
- have sex / sleep with — neutral, clear, widely acceptable.
- be intimate / make love — gentle, relationship-focused.
- hook up — casual encounter; broader social flavor.
- score / get some — boastful slang; similar tone to get laid.
- bed (someone), bang — tabloidy or vulgar; stronger than get laid.
Real-life examples
- They decided not to get laid until they talked about boundaries and health.
- He bragged about getting laid at the festival—many found it crass.
- The script changed “get laid” to “sleep with” to keep the tone neutral.
- She joked that romance novels pretend nobody ever just wants to get laid.
- In professional contexts, replace “get laid” with “have sex” or avoid the detail altogether.
Synonyms
have sex, sleep with, be intimate, make love, hook up, get lucky, get some, score, copulate, bed (someone), bang
Antonyms
abstain, practice celibacy, remain platonic, refrain, say no, be chaste
Related terms
casual sex, hookup, friends with benefits, consent, boundaries, safer sex, euphemism, objectification, nookie, roll in the hay, do it
Notes and etiquette
Use people-first, consent-centered language. Avoid using get laid to describe someone as a “target.” In journalism or education, prefer neutral terms and specify context only when necessary.
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