lace (something) with (something)
1. To mix some substance, typically alcohol or drugs of some kind, into another, especially without the knowledge of other people. Often used in passive constructions. You're going to lace the punch with booze? Do you know how childish and cliché that is? When she woke up the next morning, her friend told her that her drink had been laced with kind of blackout drug, and they had all carried her home in a taxi to make sure she was safe.
2. To adulterate something, such as the truth, with something unnecessary or corrupting. Often used in passive constructions. The state-sponsored news network always laces stories with pro-government propaganda. I know you have this idea in your head about what happened, but remember that our memories are laced with all kinds of mistakes and fabrications.
lace into
1. To tighten and tie up the laces of some clothing or equipment one or someone else is wearing. In this usage, a name or pronoun can be used after "lace" when talking about someone else. He laced into his boots and skated out onto the ice. Could you lace me into this dress? It's too tight to do it myself.
2. To verbally attack, berate, or upbraid someone. You need to stop lacing into the kids during practice like that, Tom. They're just doing soccer for fun. The president laced into the reporter for asking what he called a disrespectful question.
lace up
To tighten and tie up the laces of some clothing or equipment one or someone else is wearing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used after "lace" when talking about someone else. He laced up boots and skated out onto the ice. Gosh this dress is tight. Could you lace me up? Make sure you've laced your shoulder pads up before heading out onto the field.
laced mutton
obsolete slang A prostitute. A: "I think that Lord Stewart is spending time with a laced mutton." B: "No, surely not!"
laced-up
Uptight; repressed. She may seem laced-up at the office, but she's actually a lot of fun. She's always up for dancing the night away at a club. A: "No thanks, I'd rather study than go to a party." B: "Oh, don't be so laced-up—live a little!"
strait-laced
Excessively strict in one's manners or moral conduct; prudish. I was really strait-laced in high school, never doing anything against the rules. I think his unruly behavior is a kind of rebellion against his strait-laced parents.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
lace into someone or something
and light into someone or somethingFig. to attack, devour, or scold someone or something. We laced into a big meal of pork and beans. The bully punched John once, and then John really laced into him. John lit into him with both fists.
lace someone into something
to tighten the laces of something someone is wearing. Sally helped Billy lace himself into his boots. The maid laced Gloria into her corset.
lace someone up
to tie someone's laces; to help someone get dressed in a garment having laces. Would you please lace me up? I can't reach the ties in the back. I laced up Sally, as she requested.
lace something up
to tie the laces of something. Lace your shoes up, Tommy. Lace up your shoes.
lace something with something
to adulterate something with something, often with something alcoholic. Someone laced the punch with strong whiskey. Who laced my coffee with brandy?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
lace into
Also, light into. Attack, assail, as in He laced into me for arriving late, or She lit into him for forgetting the tickets. The first of these colloquial terms employs lace in the sense of "beat up or thrash," a usage dating from the late 1500s. The idiom with light dates from the late 1800s and stems from the verb meaning "descend."
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.