drop in someone's lap

drop (something) in (someone's) lap

To give to or force upon someone suddenly and unexpectedly. When Steve won the lottery, we suddenly had the chance to travel the world dropped in our laps. Our son dropped his student debt in our laps when he lost his job last year.

See also: drop, lap

drop in someone's lap

Give to someone suddenly or without warning. What is given may be desirable, as in I'm just going to drop the promotion in her lap this afternoon, or it may be burdensome, as in They simply dropped the employment problem in our laps. The former usage dates from the mid-1500s, the latter from the mid-1900s.

See also: drop, lap