Lay it on with a trowel Meaning in English
expression
释义
To praise, flatter, or describe something or someone with a lot of exaggeration, often more than is believable or sincere.
用法与细微差别
This idiom is informal and often describes obvious exaggeration, especially with praise or compliments. It's usually used when someone is being insincere, flattering too much, or overdoing a story. Pair with verbs like 'really', 'just', or 'tends to'. Comparable to 'overdo it' or 'pour it on thick'.
例句
He likes to lay it on with a trowel when he talks about his achievements.
basic
She really laid it on with a trowel when complimenting his cooking.
basic
Don’t lay it on with a trowel—just tell the truth.
basic
When he thanked the audience, he really laid it on with a trowel—it was almost embarrassing.
natural
The review lays it on with a trowel—the movie wasn’t that amazing.
natural
You don’t need to lay it on with a trowel—a simple compliment is enough.
natural