lay about one

lay about one idiom
  1. Strike blows on all sides, as in When the dogs cornered the old man, he laid about him with his cane. [Early 1400s]
  2. Act vigorously, make strenuous efforts, as in When there was an opportunity for profit, he laid about him. [c. 1600]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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