The manager laid it on the line—some people would have to lose their jobs.

经理坦率地说—有些人将要失去工作。

《牛津词典》

On the first day he let me work as I wanted to, but on the second day he really laid the rules on the line.

第一天，他让我干我想干的事，但到了第二天他就开诚布公地给我定了规矩。

youdao

The doctor laid it on the line to him about his chances for a complete recovery.

医生老实告诉他他能完全痊愈的机会有多少。

youdao

"Things have been laid on the line to Marion, " a senior source at the company was reported to have said.

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So, I send them notice of the Supreme Court decision in 1937 which laid it on the line the manner and clause by which Social Security, a basic safety net, was authorized by Article 1, Section 8 as ruled on by the highest court in the land.

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In places, the ground was so boggy the line had to be laid on a floating raft of logs, where it is still ironed flat by passing trains.

BBC: Full steam ahead