lay into
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To beat up or launch an attack against; to strike forcefully.
Register: colloquial
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
A very spirited affair it looked with its red body and yellow wheels, bouncing about on its high C springs [...] with its four horses going full stretch and two postilions in knee-cords and top-boots laying into the horses in a lather of dust and excitement.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To berate; to scold.
Register: colloquial
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
To start eating voraciously.
Register: colloquial
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “lay into” mean?
To beat up or launch an attack against; to strike forcefully.
Is “lay into” formal or informal?
lay into is generally colloquial.