lay on the line

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./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lay\ on\ the\ line — • lay (smth) on the line • 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… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • 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./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • lay on the line — verb expose to a chance of loss or damage We risked losing a lot of money in this venture Why risk your life? She laid her job on the line when she told the boss that he was wrong • Syn: ↑risk, ↑put on the line • Derivationally related forms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • lay on the line — to speak clearly and frankly; to make one s position obvious (also to spell (it) out) …   Idioms and examples

  • lay on the line —  State publicly and clearly, so that there can be no misunderstanding …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • lay it on the line — See: LAY ON THE LINE(2) …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • lay it on the line — See: LAY ON THE LINE(2) …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • lay\ it\ on\ the\ line — See: lay on the line(2) …   Словарь американских идиом

  • lay\ smth\ on\ the\ line — • lay (smth) on the line • 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… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • lay (something) on the line — lay/put (something) on the line be on the line if something is on the line, it is in a situation in which it could be lost or harmed. I feel pretty strongly about the matter, but I m not going to lay my career on the line for it …   New idioms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”