lay (something) on the line

lay (something) on the line

1. To put something at risk in the pursuit of something else. We're putting hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line with this property development, so you had better get it done on time! Our soldiers put their lives on the line every day to defend your freedom, so the least you can do is show them a bit of respect.

2. To speak bluntly and directly. (Phrased exclusively as "lay it on the line.") If you lay it on the line, maybe then they'll be able to understand how serious this situation is. Our soldiers put their lives on the line every day to defend your freedom, so the least you can do is show them a bit of respect.

See also: lay, line, on

lay it on the line

To speak bluntly and directly. If you lay it on the line, maybe then they'll be able to understand how serious this situation is.

See also: lay, line, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

lay it on the line

 and put it on the line

Fig. to make something very clear; to be very definite about something. I am going to lay it on the line and you had better listen to me. If you eat any of these mushrooms, you will die. I've said it before, but this time I'm going to put it on the line. Don't eat the mushrooms!

See also: lay, line, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

lay on the line

1. Make ready for payment, as in They laid hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line to develop the new software. [c. 1900]

2. lay it on the line. Speak frankly and firmly, make something clear. For example, The professor laid it on the line: either hand in a term paper or fail the course. [c. 1920]

3. Put something at risk, as in The troops sent overseas were laying their lives on the line. [Mid-1900s]

See also: lay, line, on

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.

Note: If someone lays it on the line, they say what needs to be said truthfully and directly. He laid it on the line and said without treatment I had only three months to live. Note: You can also say that someone lays everything on the line. Mr. Dambar had planned to march straight over to the trailer and lay everything on the line. Note: Originally, `lay it on the line' may have been connected with gambling. It meant to lay a bet on the sideline in the game of craps, or on the counter of a betting window at a racecourse.

lay it on the line

or

not your line of country

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED

If something is not your line of country, it is not a subject that you know much about, or one in which you are very interested. I am rather ignorant on this matter — it is not quite my line of country.

See also: lay, line, on

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

lay (or put) it on the line

speak frankly.

See also: lay, line, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

lay it on the ˈline

(informal) tell somebody something in an honest, direct and forceful way: She laid it on the line, telling us that we would fail the exam unless we worked harder.

See also: lay, line, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

lay it on the line

tv. to speak very frankly and directly. I’m going to have to lay it on the line with you, I guess.

See also: lay, line, on

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.