# lay it on thick

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lay-it-on-thick
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To exaggerate or overstate a feeling or emotion.

## Examples

- He always lays it on thick when he wants a favor.
- The salesman laid it on thick about how much I needed this expensive car, but I knew he just wanted a commission.
- Although the candidate laid it on thick regarding his commitment to the public, the voters remained skeptical of his true intentions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.