lay it on the line

idiom

informal
: to speak very honestly and directly to someone
Let me lay it on the line (to/for you): if your work doesn't improve, you'll be fired.

Examples of lay it on the line in a Sentence

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After months of talk, the 26 people who have declared their desire to go to Congress via a South Florida special election have to lay it on the line — with cold, hard cash. Anthony Man, sun-sentinel.com, 9 Aug. 2021

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Cite this Entry

“Lay it on the line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20it%20on%20the%20line. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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