Translation guide
To attack someone verbally or physically with great force or enthusiasm.
To strongly criticize, scold, or verbally attack someone.
A direct and formal way to say 'criticize harshly'. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
上司は彼のミスを激しく非難した。
The boss laid into him for his mistake.
To attack someone physically with great force, often repeatedly.
A general term for attacking violently. Can be used in both literal and figurative contexts.
暴徒が警官に激しく攻撃した。
The rioters laid into the police officers.
To start doing something with great energy or enthusiasm, especially eating or working.
To start eating vigorously. Captures the sense of diving into food with gusto.
彼はステーキに勢いよく食べ始めた。
He laid into the steak.
Do not translate 'lay into' literally as 横たえる (to lay down) or 中に入れる (to put into). It is an idiom meaning to attack or criticize.
To scold someone severely. Common in everyday speech, often used when a superior scolds a subordinate.
母親は子供を叱りつけた。
The mother laid into her child.
Literally 'mouth-attack', meaning to verbally attack. Slightly more colloquial and vivid.
彼は記者会見で政治家を口撃した。
He laid into the politician at the press conference.
To verbally abuse or revile someone. Stronger than just criticizing; implies using insulting language.
酔っ払いが通行人を罵倒した。
The drunk laid into a passerby.
To nag or scold persistently in a grumbling manner. Often used for repetitive, annoying criticism.
妻は夫にガミガミ言った。
The wife laid into her husband.
To lunge at someone and start hitting them. Emphasizes the sudden initiation of a physical attack.
彼は突然相手に殴りかかった。
He suddenly laid into his opponent.
To gang up on someone and beat them. Implies multiple attackers or a severe beating.
いじめっ子たちは彼を袋叩きにした。
The bullies laid into him.
To beat someone up badly. Very colloquial and vivid, often used in manga or casual speech.
彼は喧嘩で相手をボコボコにした。
He laid into the other guy in the fight.
To eat greedily or wolf down food. Colloquial and often used for someone eating with abandon.
子供たちはお菓子にがっついた。
The kids laid into the snacks.
To work hard at something, to put effort into a task. Used for non-food contexts like work or chores.
彼は新しいプロジェクトに精を出した。
He laid into the new project.