lay on

To provide food or drinks for people without charging them.

• They lay on lunch for everyone.
• The hosts laid on a wonderful buffet.
• Will drinks be laid on after the talk?

How to use it: lay something on for someone (They laid drinks on for all the guests.)

Similar words: provide, put on

Common phrases: lay on food, lay on a buffet

To apply something or put it into effect, sometimes very strongly.

• They began to lay on the pressure.
• She laid on the charm during the meeting.
• He is laying it on too thick.

How to use it: lay something on (He laid the sympathy on rather heavily.)

Similar words: apply, use

Common phrases: lay on pressure, lay on the charm

To say many things of a particular kind, often more than seems necessary.

• He likes to lay on compliments.
• She laid on the praise after his performance.
• Stop laying on excuses and explain what happened.

How to use it: lay on something (The guests laid on the compliments all evening.)

Similar words: heap on, pile on

Common phrases: lay on compliments, lay on the praise

To spread a layer of paint or another substance over a surface.

• Lay on the paint evenly.
• He laid on a thick coat of plaster.
• She is laying on the final layer with a brush.

How to use it: lay on something (Lay on a thin coat of paint first.)

Similar words: apply, spread on

Common phrases: lay on paint, lay on a coat

To say that someone or something is responsible for a problem or wrong action.

• He laid the blame on me.
• She tried to lay the whole failure on the weather.
• Do not lay it on the youngest worker.

How to use it: lay something on someone/something (They laid all the blame on the driver.)

Similar words: blame, pin on

Common phrases: lay on someone, lay on the driver

To tell or explain something to someone.

• Lay some wisdom on me.
• He laid his latest theory on us.
• Are you ready to lay the news on them?

How to use it: lay something on someone (Lay your best advice on me.)

Similar words: tell, explain, pass on

Common phrases: lay on some wisdom, lay on some advice