spread

*all over (some place)

found in every place; available in all locations. (*Typically: be ~; Spread ~.) The window shattered and shards of glass were all over the place. There are ants all over the cake!

all over 

1. and (all) over with finished. Dinner is all over. I'm sorry you didn't get any. It's all over. He's dead now.

2. everywhere. Oh, I just itch all over. She's spreading the rumor all over.

lay it on thick and lay it on with a trowel; pour it on thick; spread it on thick

Fig. to exaggerate or over-state praise, excuses, or blame. Sally was laying it on thick when she said that Tom was the best singer she had ever heard. After Bob finished making his excuses, Sally said that he was pouring it on thick. Bob always spreads it on thick.

See also: lay, thick

spread someone or something around

to distribute people or things over an area. Spread the good singers around so they can help the others in the choir. Liz spread around the seeds so they would dry.

See also: around

spread something around

to distribute news or gossip. Please don't spread this around, but Don ran away from home! Don't spread around that story!

See also: around

spread something on thick 

1. to distribute a thick layer of something. This paint will cover well if you spread it on thick. If you spread the paint on thick, you will only need one coat.

2. Go to lay it on thick.

See also: thick

spread something onto something and spread something on

to distribute a coating of something onto something. Spread the butter onto the bread evenly. Spread on the butter evenly. Donna spread the paint on with a roller.

spread something out

to open, unfold, or lay something over a wider area. Spread the wet papers out so they will dry. She spread out the papers to dry them.

See also: out

spread something over someone or something

to cause something to cover or be distributed over someone or something. The cloud spread its shadow over everyone at the picnic. We spread fertilizer over the prepared ground. He spread the work over a few weeks.

spread something under someone or something

to extend or unfold something, such as a tarpaulin, beneath someone or something. Please spread some newspapers under Jimmy while he is working this clay. Would you spread some newspapers under your work, please?

spread something with something

to cover something with a coat of something. Using the roller, Judy spread the wall with a thick coat of pink paint. Spread the lasagna with a layer of cheese mixture and cover that with another layer of lasagna.

spread like wildfire

Fig. [for something] to spread rapidly. Rumors spread like wildfire when people are excited. This disease will spread like wildfire when it gets going.

See also: like, wildfire

spread oneself too thin

Fig. to do so many things at one time that you can do none of them well. It's a good idea to get involved in a lot of activities, but don't spread yourself too thin. I'm too busy these days. I'm afraid I've spread myself too thin.

See also: oneself, thin

spread out

to separate and distribute over a wide area. The sheriff told the members of the posse to spread out and continue their search. The wine spread out and stained a large area of the carpet.

See also: out

spread over someone or something

[for something] to cover someone or something gradually. The shade slowly spread over the picnickers. Dusk spread its final shadows over the land.

spread the word

to tell many people some kind of information. I need to spread the word that the meeting is canceled for this afternoon.

See also: word

spread to someone or something

to expand or extend to reach someone or something. The epidemic finally spread to me and my family. The business slowdown spread to the West Coast.

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a middle-aged spread

the fat area around the waist that a lot of people get as they grow older A dark blue shirt worn outside his trousers concealed the middle-aged spread.

lay it on thick  (informal) also lay it on with a trowel (informal)

to make an emotion or experience seem more important or serious than it really is He'd injured his hand slightly but he was laying it on a bit thick about how painful it was. They must have told us ten times how wonderful their daughter was - they were really laying it on with a trowel.

See also: lay, thick

spread your wings

to start to do new and exciting things for the first time in your life The kids had all grown up and left home and I thought it was time to spread my wings and live a little.

See also: wing

spread yourself too thin

to try to do too many things at the same time, so that you cannot give enough time or attention to any of them I realised I'd been spreading myself too thin so I resigned as secretary of the golf club.

See also: thin

spread like wildfire

if disease or news spreads like wildfire, it quickly affects or becomes known by more and more people Once one child in the school has become infected, the disease spreads like wildfire. Scandal spreads like wildfire round here.

See also: like, wildfire

spread the word

to tell other people, often a lot of other people, about something A meeting has been arranged for next Thursday, so if you see anyone, do spread the word. (often + that ) We need to start spreading the word that recycling is important.

See also: word

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all over

in many places My family is spread out all over.

Related vocabulary: all over town

all over (again)

another time, starting from the beginning I cleaned the kitchen, the dogs tracked in mud, and I had to do it all over.

spread (yourself/itself too) thin

1. to try to do too many different things at the same time Max has spread himself thin and needs to focus on just a couple of his best ideas. The company has expanded into many different areas and has probably spread itself too thin.

2. to not have enough people or equipment to do a job well The police are spread thin and cannot provide enough protection.

See also: thin

spread your wings

to do new and different things Since I retired, I've been able to spread my wings and am busier than I was when I worked.

See also: wing

spread the word

to tell others about something The meeting will be held on Thursday, so if you see anyone who should be there, spread the word.

See also: word