Lay on, Macduff

Cultural  

1. A line from the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. Macbeth speaks these words as he attacks his enemy Macduff at the end of the play; Macbeth is killed in the fight.

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Example Sentences

Lay on, Macduff; And damned be him that first cries, Hold, enough!

From Familiar Quotations by Bartlett, John

With him I shouted, "Lay on, Macduff; and damn'd be he that first cries, Hold, enough."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, April 15, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!"

From Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by Bartlett, John

Jack I think that's awkward,–looks as if she were going to cry "Lay on, Macduff!"

From The Sweet Girl Graduates by Woodman, Rea

You are indeed a very acute reader to have divined the real attitude of my mind; and I can only conclude, not without closed eyes and shrinking shoulders, in the well-worn words Lay on, Macduff!

From Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 1 by Stevenson, Robert Louis