lay it on

laid, lay·ing.

• : to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
• : to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.
• : to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back.
• : to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare.
• : to set, place, or apply: to lay hands on a child.
• : to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks.
• : to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline.
• : to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
• : to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission.
• : to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.
• : to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector.
• : to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard.
• : to bring forth and deposit.
• : to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments.
• : to place dinner service on; set.
• : to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.
• : to devise or arrange, as a plan.
• : to deposit as a wager; bet: He laid $10 on the horse that won the third race.
• : to set.
• : to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France.
• : to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth.
• : to cause to subside: laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water.
• : Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with.
• : to bring down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.
• : to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.
• : Nautical. to move or turn into a certain position or direction.
• : to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.
• : to put on a scent.

laid, lay·ing.

• : to lay eggs.
• : to wager or bet.
• : to apply oneself vigorously.
• : to deal or aim blows vigorously.
• : Nonstandard. lie.
• : South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme.
• : Midland and Southern U.S. to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain.
• : Nautical. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind.

• : the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the land.
• : Slang: Vulgar. a partner in sexual intercourse.an instance of sexual intercourse.
• : Ropemaking. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.
• : Also called lay-up, spread . multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.
• : Textiles. batten.
• : a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.

• : lay aside, to abandon or put to one side.to save for use at a later time; store: to lay aside some money every month.
• : lay away, to reserve for later use; save. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.to bury: They laid him away in the tomb.
• : lay back, Slang. to relax.
• : lay by, to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.Nautical. to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.Midland and Southern U.S.to tend for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
• : lay down, to give up; yield: to lay down one's arms.to assert firmly; state authoritatively: to lay down rigid rules of conduct.to stock; store: to lay down wine.to produce or execute successfully; throw down: In the top of the thirteenth inning, Jones laid down a perfect bunt.Shipbuilding.to draw at full size, as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft.
• : lay for, Informal. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.
• : lay in, to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods.
• : lay into, Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
• : lay off, to dismiss, especially temporarily because of slack business.Informal.to cease or quit: He promised to lay off drinking.Slang.to stop annoying or teasing: Lay off me, will you?Informal.to stop work: They laid off at four and went home.to put aside or take off.to mark off; measure; plot. Slang.to give or hand over; pass on: They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center. to transfer all or part of to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.to get rid of or transfer: He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.Nautical.to sail away from.Nautical.to remain stationary at a distance from.Shipbuilding.lay.
• : lay on, to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.to strike blows; attack violently: When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.Nautical.to sail toward.Nautical.to row with a full stroke.Slang.to tell, impart, or give to: Let me lay a little good advice on you.Chiefly British Informal.to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat: The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
• : lay open, to cut open: to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.to expose; reveal: Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism: He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.
• : lay out, to extend at length.to spread out in order; arrange; prepare. to plan; plot; design. to ready for burial.Informal.to spend or contribute.Slang.to knock down or unconscious.Slang.to scold vehemently; reprimand: Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.to make a layout of.Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
• : lay over, to be postponed until action may be taken: The vote will have to be laid over until next week.to make a stop, as during a trip: We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.
• : lay to, Nautical.to check the motion of.Nautical.to put in a dock or other place of safety.to attack vigorously.to put forth effort; apply oneself.
• : lay up, to put away for future use; store up.to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable. Nautical.to retire from active use.Nautical. to be retired from active use.to construct: The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.to apply to form a bonded material.