lie
noun
Definitions of lie noun
- B1Countable
A statement made knowing it is not true.
I told her a white lie to avoid hurting her feelings.
His lies were eventually exposed.
Don't believe anything he says; it's all lies.
verb
Definitions of lie verb
position
- A2IntransitiveLinking verbVerb + adv/prep
To be or place oneself in a horizontal position on a surface.
She enjoys lying on the sofa while reading a book.
He lay wearily on the grass, gazing at the sky.
The patient was asked to lie down for the examination.
- B1IntransitiveLinking verbVerb + adv/prep
To be situated in a particular place, position, or direction.
The small town lies in the center of the valley.
That beautiful lake lies deep in the forest.
Many challenges still lie ahead of us.
- IntransitiveVerb + adv/prep
To have existence; to be present.
The real problem lies in the lack of communication.
The secret had lain hidden in obscurity for years.
Opportunities often lie where you least expect them.
responsibility
- C2IntransitiveVerb + adv/prep
To be the responsibility or fault of someone; to be decided by someone.
The success or failure of this project lies with the project manager.
The final decision lies with the board of directors.
The root of the problem lies in the management's negligence.
deception
- B1Intransitive
To make a false statement with the intention to deceive.
I can tell that you are lying.
She lied and said that she had not seen anything.
Why would you lie to me?
Phrases of lie verb
- lie in state
To be displayed for public viewing and honour before burial, typically referring to the body of an important person.
• After the passing of the esteemed leader, his body lay in state at the capitol building.
Idioms
- lie low
To avoid attracting attention or being noticed; to remain inconspicuous.
• After the scandal broke, the politician decided to lie low for a while.
- lie down on the job
To neglect one's duties or responsibilities at work by not working as diligently or effectively as expected.
• Ever since his promotion, he's started to lie down on the job, often arriving late and leaving early.
- lie doggo
To remain still and hidden in order to avoid being discovered.
• The police believe the suspect is currently lying doggo, waiting for things to calm down.
- not take something lying down
To refuse to passively accept unfair or negative treatment; to actively resist being treated poorly.
• When they tried to cut her pay, she didn't take it lying down; she went straight to management to protest.
- lie through your teeth
To deliberately and brazenly tell a lie, knowing it is completely untrue.
• He knew he was wrong, but he lied through his teeth anyway, which was truly disappointing.
- give the lie to something
to demonstrate that something is false or inaccurate
• Despite his claims of expertise, his ignorance on the subject gave the lie to his assertions.
- the lie of the land
The prevailing conditions, circumstances, or general situation of a place or endeavor.
• Before we start this project, we need to understand the lie of the land.
Phrasal Verbs of lie
- lie back
to recline your upper body from a seated position to a lying posture
• On the beach, we decided to lie back and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
- lie around
When items are left scattered in places where they do not belong.
• Books lie around on the floor, making the room look messy.
- lie behind something
When something serves as a hidden or underlying cause for something else.
• Economic factors often lie behind many social issues.
- lie in something
to be present or located within something
• The root of the problem lies in a lack of communication.
- lie up
to conceal oneself to avoid being found by police, military personnel, etc.
• During the police hunt, he chose to lie up at an old friend's house.
- lie in
to remain in bed longer than usual in the morning
• I love to lie in on weekends, just to stay in bed a little longer.
- lie down
to assume a flat position with the body, often for the purpose of sleeping or resting
• At sunset, I usually lie down on the grass to enjoy the beauty of nature.