Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[lay into] or [light into]{v.}, {informal} 1. To attack physically; go at vigorously. •/The two fighters laid into each other as soon as the bell rang./ •/John loves Italian food and he really laid into the spaghetti./ Syn.: PITCH INTO, SAIL INTO. 2. {slang} To attack with words. •/The senator laid into the opponents of his bill./ Syn.: LACE INTO, RIP INTO. Compare: BAWL OUT, TELL OFF.
[lay it on] or [lay it on thick] also [put it on thick] or [spread it on thick] or [lay it on with a trowel]{v. phr.}, {informal} To persuade someone by using very much flattery; flatter. •/Bob wanted to go to the movies. He laid it on thick to his mother./ •/Mary was caught fibbing. She sure spread it on thick./ Compare: PUT ON(2b).
[lay it on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE(2).
[lay low]{v.} 1. To knock down; to force into a lying position; to put out of action. •/Many trees were laid low by the storm./ •/Jane was laid low by the flu./ 2. To kill. •/The hunters laid low seven pheasants./ 3. See: LIE LOW.
[layoff]{n.} A systematic or periodical dismissal of employees from a factory or a firm. •/Due to the poor economy, the car manufacturer announced a major layoff starting next month./
[lay off]{v. phr.} 1. To mark out the boundaries or limits. •/He laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot./ Compare: LAY OUT(5). 2. To put out of work. •/The company lost the contract for making the shoes and laid off half its workers./ 3. {slang} To stop bothering; leave alone. — Usually used in the imperative. •/Lay off me, will you? I have to study for a test./ 4. {slang} To stop using or taking. •/His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes./
[lay of the land] also [how the land lies]{n. phr.} 1. The natural features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. •/The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land./ 2. The way something is arranged; the important facts about something; how things are. •/The banker wanted to check the lay of the land before buying the stock./ •/Before the new boy will join our club, he wants to see how the land lies./
[lay on]{v.} 1. To spread on or over a surface; apply. •/He told us that we should lay on a second coat of paint for better protection against the weather./ 2. To beat; to strike. •/Little John seized a staff and began to lay on with great energy./ 3. See: LAY IT ON.
[lay one’s cards on the table] or [lay down one’s cards] or [put one’s cards on the table]{v. phr.}, {informal} To let someone know your position and interest openly; deal honestly; act without trickery or secrets. •/In talking about buying the property, Peterson laid his cards on the table about his plans for it./ •/Some of the graduates of the school were unfriendly toward the new superintendent, but he put his cards on the table and won their support./
[lay oneself open to]{v. phr.} To make oneself vulnerable to; expose oneself. •/If you don’t perform your job properly, you will lay yourself open to criticism./
[lay oneself out]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make an extra hard effort; try very hard. •/Larry wanted to win a medal for his school, so he really laid himself out in the race./
[lay one’s finger on] See: PUT ONE’S FINGER ON.
[lay one’s hands on] or [get one’s hands on]{v. phr.} 1. To seize in order to punish or treat roughly. •/If I ever lay my hands on that boy he’ll be sorry./ Compare: LAY A FINGER ON. 2. To get possession of. •/He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school play./ Compare: LAY HANDS ON(1). 3. or [lay one’s hand on] or [put one’s hand on] To find; locate. •/He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it./
[lay on the line] or [put on the line]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pay or offer to pay. •/The sponsors had to lay nearly a million dollars on the line to keep the show on TV./ •/The bank is putting $5,000 on the line as a reward to anyone who catches the robber./ Compare: PUT UP. 2. To say plainly so that there can be no doubt; tell truthfully, •/I’m going to lay it on the line for you, Paul. You must work harder if you want to pass./ 3. To take a chance of losing; risk. •/The champion is laying his title on the line in the fight tonight./ •/Frank decided to lay his job on the line and tell the boss that he thought he was wrong./
[lay out]{v. phr.} 1. To prepare (a dead body) for burial. •/The corpse was laid out by the undertaker./ 2. {slang} To knock down flat; to hit unconscious. •/A stiff right to the jaw laid the boxer out in the second round./ 3. To plan. •/Come here, Fred, I have a job laid out for you./ 4. To mark or show where work is to be done. •/The foreman laid out the job for the new machinist./ 5. To plan the building or arrangement of; design. •/The architect laid out the interior of the building./ •/The early colonists laid out towns in the wilderness./ Compare: LAY OFF(1). 6. {slang} To spend; pay. •/How much did you have to lay out for your new car?/ 7. or [lay out in lavender]{slang} To scold; lecture. •/He was laid out in lavender for arriving an hour late for the dance./ Compare: JUMP ON, LAY INTO(2), LET HAVE IT(1c).