"Lay on"

[lethargic_man]

The German for to pick an argument with someone is sich anlegen. This is not the sense in which we use "lay on" in English today, but I wonder whether it once was: "Lay on, Macduff!"

Comments

[pseudomonas]

In English one can lay into someone...

[ewx]

Also OED lay, v.1 32a 'to lay on or upon: to attack vigorously, to beat soundly', and maybe it's been used figuratively from time to time...