lay\ on\ the\ line

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 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.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — 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

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