IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishlay it on thick
Meaning: To exaggerate, especially praise or flattery, far too much.
Example: “Saying my soup was the best meal of his life was laying it on a bit thick.”
Origin: An offshoot of "lay it on with a trowel" (see that entry): the image is of paint or plaster spread heavily. The shorter "thick" form is later; its first use has not been traced precisely.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Beurrer épais Literally: To butter thick
More English idioms
- welcome with open arms To greet or accept someone with great warmth and enthusiasm.
- count on the fingers of one hand To be very few in number, five or fewer.
- give someone an earful To scold someone at length, or tell them angrily what one thinks.
- one's eyes pop out of one's head To be astonished, often at something striking or desirable.
- turn one's stomach To make someone feel sick, physically or with disgust.
- have eyes in the back of one's head To notice everything, even what happens behind one's back.
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