[Idiom] LAY IT ON THE LINE

[EverLivingPoet]

could "lay it on the line" mean "put it on the line" in certain contexts?

 

[sunsunmoon]

lay it on the line
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.


lay it on the line

(informal) to tell somebody clearly what you think, especially when they will not like what you say
The manager laid it on the line—some people would have to lose their jobs.

 

[EverLivingPoet]

I found "lay it on the line" when reading a sports article. So what meaning is intended by it?

 

[emsr2d2]

I found "lay it on the line" when reading a sports article. So what meaning is intended by it?

It depends on the context. Can you post the sentence/paragraph that you found it in please?

 

[nyota]

I found "lay it on the line" when reading a sports article. So what meaning is intended by it?

Could be entry 18b in Longman:

18 lay somebody/something on the line

a) to state something, especially a threat, demand, or criticism, in a very clear way:
Lay it on the line and tell them what's really been happening.

b) also 'put somebody/something on the line'- to risk losing your life, your job etc, especially in order to help someone:
I've laid myself on the line for him once already.

 

[JTRiff]

'Put it on the line' doesn't work. It's a specific phrase, though I'm not sure of the origin of laying it on the line.



not a teacher