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lace

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laced mutton

An outdated term for a prostitute. A: "I think that Lord Stewart is spending time with a laced mutton." B: "No, surely not!"

See also: lace, mutton

lace into someone or something

 and light into someone or something

Fig. to attack, devour, or scold someone or something. We laced into a big meal of pork and beans. The bully punched John once, and then John really laced into him. John lit into him with both fists.

See also: lace

lace someone into something

to tighten the laces of something someone is wearing. Sally helped Billy lace himself into his boots. The maid laced Gloria into her corset.

See also: lace

lace someone up

to tie someone's laces; to help someone get dressed in a garment having laces. Would you please lace me up? I can't reach the ties in the back. I laced up Sally, as she requested.

See also: lace, up

lace something up

to tie the laces of something. Lace your shoes up, Tommy. Lace up your shoes.

See also: lace, up

lace something with something

to adulterate something with something, often with something alcoholic. Someone laced the punch with strong whiskey. Who laced my coffee with brandy?

See also: lace

lace into

Also, light into. Attack, assail, as in He laced into me for arriving late, or She lit into him for forgetting the tickets. The first of these colloquial terms employs lace in the sense of "beat up or thrash," a usage dating from the late 1500s. The idiom with light dates from the late 1800s and stems from the verb meaning "descend."

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lace into

v.

To attack or assail someone: The captain laced into me for getting to practice so late.

See also: lace

lace up

v.

1. To fasten shoes or clothing by tightening and tying laces: I laced up my skates before my lesson. We laced our hiking boots up before we headed out.

2. To tighten and tie the laces on someone's shoes or clothing: Come over here so I can lace you up. The assistant laced up the skater before the start of the competition.

See also: lace, up

lace

1. tv. to add alcohol to coffee or tea; to add alcohol to any food or drink. Who laced the punch?

2. tv. to add a bit of one drug to another; to add drugs to any food or drink. (Drugs.) Somebody laced the ice cubes with acid.

3. n. money. (Underworld.) You got any lace in those pockets?