lay on with a trowel

verb

To offer (praise, flattery, etc.) in an unsubtle and excessive way.

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Meanings

verblay on with a trowel (third-person singular simple present lays on with a trowel, present participle laying on with a trowel, simple past and past participle laid on with a trowel)

present singular third person lays on with a trowel · participle present laying on with a trowel · participle past laid on with a trowel · past laid on with a trowel

  1. transitiveTo offer (praise, flattery, etc.) in an unsubtle and excessive way.
Cite this entry
APA

lay on with a trowel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20on%20with%20a%20trowel

MLA

“lay on with a trowel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20on%20with%20a%20trowel. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay on with a trowel,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20on%20with%20a%20trowel.

Source: lay on with a trowel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.