Definition

Verb: - To attack or criticize someone or something severely and forcefully, either verbally or physically.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to describe a sudden, intense, and aggressive action, most commonly a verbal tirade or a physical assault. It implies a vigorous and often angry beginning of an attack.

Examples

• The coach laced into the team after their poor performance.
• During the debate, she laced into her opponent's policy proposals.
• The critic laced into the new film, calling it a complete failure.

Advanced Usage

• "lace into someone/something": The structure is always followed by the target of the attack.
  • He laced into the report, pointing out every single error.
• Often used in past tense to describe a completed outburst.
  • The manager had laced into him for being late.

Variants and Related Words

• Tear into (phrasal verb): A very close synonym, meaning to criticize or attack fiercely.
  • She tore into the proposal during the meeting.
• Lambaste (verb): To criticize harshly.
• Berate (verb): To scold or criticize angrily.

Synonyms

• Attack
• Assail
• Criticize harshly
• Lay into
• Rip into

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lay into: To attack or criticize someone forcefully.
  • He really laid into me about the missed deadline.
• Rip into: To criticize or attack someone or something very strongly.
  • The article ripped into the government's handling of the crisis.

Related Idioms

• Read someone the riot act: To reprimand someone severely.
  • After the mistake, his boss read him the riot act. (This idiom shares the concept of severe reprimand but is more formal than "lace into").

Verb

1. hit violently, as in an attack