[Idiom] LAY IT ON THE LINE. - Speak Your Mind: Expressions for Transparency and Risk
Lay it on the line.
Be completely honest.
To "lay it on the line" means to speak frankly and risk the consequences. It involves putting your thoughts or opinions out there, clearly and risking the personal or professional stakes involved. This idiom is derived from gambling, where bets are placed on a line, representing the high stakes and risks taken by being brutally honest.
Example Sentences
You have to lay it on the line if you want to succeed here.
You need to take significant risks if you want to achieve success here.
During the meeting, he laid it on the line and asked for honesty from everyone.
During the meeting, he bluntly asked everyone to be honest and straightforward.
Laying it on the line, she told her team that performance needed to improve or changes would follow.
She was very direct with her team, saying that performance must improve or there would be changes.