General
lay some iron
What does lay some iron mean?
Used as a call to start dancing in earnest.
"The band's cooking, time to lay some iron."
Origin
1930s-40s Harlem jive slang, found in Cab Calloway's 'Hepster's Dictionary' as meaning to tap-dance. The 'iron' referred to the metal taps fixed to a dancer's shoes.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'lay some iron' mean?
It means to tap-dance, laying the metal taps of your shoes against the floor.
Where did 'lay some iron' come from?
From 1930s-40s Harlem jive, recorded in Cab Calloway's 'Hepster's Dictionary.'
Why 'iron'?
Because of the metal taps on a dancer's shoes that struck the floor.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
