S.J (asker) Nov 10, 2020:

Thank you all.

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 8, 2020:

"low" agree with others that "low" is far more likely

Sheila Wilson Nov 8, 2020:

OMG, that's offensive! I'm glad you said it was early sixties. I suppose it's too late to complain about it now. But I was still in short socks then rather than drinking in a public bar, where you might well see me today.

philgoddard Nov 8, 2020:

I think it's "low", which could sound like " lay" in an Australian accent.

S.J (asker) Nov 7, 2020:

The script is "on the lay side". The audio is old one (Early sixties) Australian one. They are asking people what they think about women to drinking in a public. The woman doesn't seem okay with that. Thank you.

Tony M Nov 7, 2020:

@ Asker Indeed, is this something you've transcribed from a film etc., or have read in a printed document? It makes a difference as to what, if any, error mechanism might be involved.
Depending on the origin of this material (US? GB?), it could be a period (what era?) usage and/or some kind of mispronunciation of e.g. a French word.
We do refer to a woman of 'loose virtue' as 'being an easy lay' — but that doesn't really seem to fit with the syntax here.

Mark Robertson Nov 7, 2020:

@Sjaatoul Are you sure you have not misheard the footage?

Lay might be low, which makes more sense.