lay into

verb

1. to attack forcefully
2. to berate severely

Example Sentences

Playing to the crowd's enthusiasm, Trump continued to lay into his opponent.

From Salon

Labour ministers have spent the weeks since the election laying into the state of public services and their financial inheritance, after returning to power for the first time since 2010.

From BBC

But instead of continuing to lay into the Directors Guild of America members, Kimmel praised, the below-the-line workers who stood with their guilds, bringing a group onstage to be applauded.

From Salon

Republican lawmakers had been preparing to lay into Mr. Austin before the hearing, calling former Defense Department officials for advice.

From New York Times

It is reasonable to wonder how long Ramsay can keep going like this — will he still be laying into amateur cooks or aiding ailing restaurants when he’s 75?

From New York Times