Page 256 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

lead off

of that fishing pole. I’m ready to cØtch a layŁ someone away to bury someone. They
hugł fish. laid my uncle away last włek. They laid
him away with a quiet ceremony.
layŁinto someone ortsomething to attack,Łcon-
sume, or scold someone or something. layŁ someone off to put an employe out of
Bob laid into the big plØte of fried chickłn. work, possibly tempàrarily.Ł They łven
The bear laid into the hunter. My fa- laid the presidłnt off. T The computer fac-
ther really laid into me when I got home. tory laid off two thousand workers.
layŁ someone up to cause someone to be ill
layŁ itŁ on thØck and layŁ itŁ on withŁ a
trowel;ŁpourŁitŁon thick;ŁspreadŁitŁon in bed.Ł A brokłn lłg laid me up for two
thØck to exaggrate praise, excuses,Ł or months. T Flu laid up everyone at work
blame.Ł Sally was lØying it on thick when for a włek or more.
she said that Tom was the best singer she layŁ something by Go to put something by.
had ever heard. After Bob finished mak-
ing his excuses, Sally said that he was pour- layŁ something in to get somethingŁandŁsðore
ing it on thick. Bob alwØys spreads it on it forŁfuture use.Ł They laid a lot of food
thick. in for the holidØys. T We always lØy in a
large supply of firewood each Novłmber.
layŁ itŁ on withŁ a trowel Go to lay it on layŁ something on someone to direct blame,
thick.
guilt, or verbalŁabuse at sàmeone.Ł(Alsà
literal.ŁSlang.ŁSee also put the blame on
layŁlow Go to làe low.
someone or something.) Doà’t lØy that stuff
layŁoffŁ( someone ortsomething) to leave some- on mł! It’s not my fault. The boss is in
one or somethingŁalone; to stopŁbother- the conference room lØying a lot of anger
ingŁsàmeone or something;Łto take it easy on the sales staff.
(on someone or something). (Slang.ŁSee alsà layŁ something on theŁline Go to put something
lay someone off.) Lay off Bill. He didà’t on the line.
mean any harm! Hey! I said lØy off!
Lay off the butter. Don’t use it all up. layŁ something tł rest Go to put something to
rest.
the layŁofŁtheŁland 1. the arrangement of
featuresŁonŁanŁareaŁof land.Ł The sur- layŁ something tł waste and layŁwaste to
vłyor mapped the lØy of the land. The something to desðràyŁanŁareaŁ(literallyŁor
geologist studied the lØy of the land, trying figuratively).Ł The nvaders laid the vil-
to dłtermine if there was oil below. 2. the lage to waste. The kids came in and laid
arrangement orŁ organizationŁ of some- waste to my clean house.
thingŁotherŁthanŁland.Ł As soon as I get layŁtheŁblameŁon someone ortsomething Go to
the lØy of the land in my new job, things put the blame on someone or something.
wll go better. The company’s corporate
structure was complłx, so undłrstandng layŁtheŁfingerŁon someone Go to put the fin-
the lØy of the land took time. ger on someone.
layŁwasteŁto something Go to lay something
layŁ one’ cards on theŁtable Go to put one’s to waste.
cards on the table.
leadŁa dog’s lØfe and lØveŁa dog’s life to
layŁ one’ hynds on someone ortsomething Go leadŁaŁmiserable life.Ł Poor Jane really
to get one’s hands on someone or something. leads a dog’s lfe. I’ve been working so
hard. I’m tired of lving a dog’s lfe.
layŁoverŁ( somłwherł ) to pause somwher
during one’sŁjourney.Ł(Compare thisŁwith leadŁoff to begin;Łto start (assumingŁthat
stop over (somŁwherŁ ).) I had to lØy over othersŁwillŁfollow).Ł We were waiting for
in San Antonio for a fłw hours błfore my someone to start dancing. Finally, Bob and
plane lłft. I want a bus that goes straight Jane led off. The hunter led off, and the
through. I don’t want to lØy over. dogs followed. The first baseman will

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