- Home
- Idioms
- lap
lap
drop (something) in (someone's) lap
To give to or force upon someone suddenly and unexpectedly. When Steve won the lottery, we suddenly had the chance to travel the world dropped in our laps. Our son dropped his student debt in our laps when he lost his job last year.
lap dog
1. Literally, a dog that is small enough and temperamentally inclined to sit comfortably upon one's lap. We always had lap dogs when I was growing up, so I never feel comfortable around my boyfriend's gigantic St. Bernard.
2. A person who is readily inclined to submit to, seek the favor of, or agree with someone else, especially a person of higher authority. It sickens me to see you be a lap dog of your boss like that. Have a little self-respect!
lap of the gods
A state beyond possible human control, intervention, or responsibility; a state or condition that is or will be decided by nature or fate. Usually used in the phrase "in the lap of the gods." I'm afraid we've done all we can to treat your father's heart attack. His recovery is in the lap of the gods, now.
fall into (one's) lap
To be received unexpectedly or without effort. I didn't steal the internship from you—it fell into my lap, I swear! Your aunt has decided to get a new car, so her old one might fall into your lap.
be in the lap of the gods
To be out of one's control or power. Now that the jury is deliberating, my fate is in the lap of the gods
fall into one's lap
Fig. [for something of great value or usefulness] to be given or granted to someone without having been requested. Some valuable antique jewelry just fell into his lap. His late mother had kept it hidden for years.
in the lap of luxury
Cliché in luxurious surroundings. John lives in the lap of luxury because his family is very wealthy. When I retire, I'd like to live in the lap of luxury.
lap of luxury
Fig. a luxurious situation. I rather enjoy living in the lap of luxury. You call this pigpen the lap of luxury?
lap over (something)
[for something] to extend or project over the edge or boundary of something. The lid lapped over the edge of the barrel, forming a little table. The blanket did not lap over enough to keep me warm.
lap something up
1. Lit. [for an animal] to lick something up. The dog lapped the ice cream up off the floor. The dog lapped up the ice cream.
2. Fig. [for someone] to accept or believe something with enthusiasm. Of course, they believed it. They just lapped it up. They lapped up the lies without questioning anything.
lap (up) against something
[for waves] to splash gently against something. The waves lapped up against the shore softly. The waves lapped against the side of the boat all night long, and I couldn't sleep.
Make a lap!
Sl. to sit down. Hey, make a lap and get out of the way! Pull up a chair and make a lap!
fall into your lap
also drop into your lap to come to you without you making any effort You can't expect the ideal job to just fall into your lap – you've got to go out there and look for it.
lap up something
also lap something up1. to enjoy something very much
My dogs lap up whatever attention I can give them. Related vocabulary:
eat it up 2. to believe what is said or written without knowing or caring if it is true Even if you're lying, there's always someone who will lap it up because most people want to believe you.
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of lap up (to eat with great enthusiasm)
be in the lap of the gods
if the result of a situation is in the lap of the gods, you cannot control what will happen I've sent in my application form and I've sorted out my references so it's in the lap of the gods now.
drop/fall into your lap
if something good falls into your lap, you get it without making any effort You can't expect the ideal job to just fall into your lap - you've got to go out there and look for it.
in the lap of luxury
if you are in the lap of luxury, you live in conditions of much comfort because you have a lot of money I have to earn enough to keep my wife in the lap of luxury. They live in the lap of luxury in a huge great house in the south of France.
drop in someone's lap
Give to someone suddenly or without warning. What is given may be desirable, as in I'm just going to drop the promotion in her lap this afternoon, or it may be burdensome, as in They simply dropped the employment problem in our laps. The former usage dates from the mid-1500s, the latter from the mid-1900s.
lap of luxury, in the
In affluent circumstances, equipped with anything money can buy. For example, Jane grew up in the lap of luxury. This expression alludes to the lap as a place of comfort. [Late 1700s]
lap of the gods, in the
Beyond one's control, in the hands of providence. For example, She's done what she can to expedite matters; now it's in the lap of the gods. This expression is a translation from Homer's Iliad, in which Automedon, the charioteer of Achilles and Patroclos, said the battle's outcome was "in the lap of the gods." Lap of the gods has also been translated as knees of the gods.
lap up
Take in or receive very eagerly, as in She loves to travel-she just laps it up, or The agency is lapping up whatever information their spies send in. This expression alludes to an animal drinking greedily. [Late 1800s]
lap up
v.1. To eat or drink something completely by licking: The kitten lapped up the milk in the saucer. The cat lapped the water up.
2. To receive something eagerly or greedily: The author lapped up the audience's praise. The runner lapped the medals up at the banquet.
lap dancer
n. an exotic dancer who writhes and rubs her posterior on the lap of a seated customer. Most of us lap dancers follow rules about no touching.
lap dancing
n. sexually stimulating erotic writhing and rubbing of a woman’s posterior against the lap of a seated, male customer. Our town has outlawed lap dancing.
Make a lap!
exclam. to sit down. Hey, make a lap and get out of the way!
the lap of luxury
Conditions of great affluence or material comfort: an heiress living in the lap of luxury.
faster than a cat lapping chain lightning
Another old Southern expression, this one meaning very fast indeed.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Netta (2) | | - | Hebrew |
| Hrafn | | - | Icelandic, Ancient Scandinavian |
| Alyssia | | ə-LIS-yə | English (Modern) |
| Fair | | [fɛə] | |
| LourenÇO | | law-REN-soo (Portuguese), law-REN-soo (Brazilian Portuguese) | Portuguese |
| Lettie | | LET-ee | English |