lie down
A2Informal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To move into a horizontal resting position on a surface such as a bed, sofa, or the floor.
To accept a situation without protest or resistance; to rest or take a break from activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is an intransitive phrasal verb (cannot take a direct object). 'Lie' is an irregular verb (lie, lay, lain). Do not confuse with the transitive verb 'lay' (to put something down).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The past tense 'lay' (I lay down yesterday) is common and correct in both. Some American style guides show a stronger tendency to confuse 'lie' with 'lay', leading to hypercorrection (e.g., 'I will lay down' considered incorrect by prescriptive grammarians). In the UK, the phrase 'lie-in' (sleeping late) is more common than in the US.
Connotations
Identical core connotation of rest or submission.
Frequency
Equally frequent and neutral in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S + lie downS + lie down + for + time period (for an hour)S + lie down + on + location (on the couch)S + lie down + and + verb (and rest)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take it lying down (to accept without protest)”
- “lie down on the job (to neglect one's work)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally; may appear in idioms ('We won't take these losses lying down').
Academic
Extremely rare, except in psychological or medical contexts describing patient posture.
Everyday
Very common for suggesting rest, sleep, or a short break.
Technical
Used in medical/physiotherapy instructions ('Please lie down on the examination table').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to lie down after that heavy roast.
- The doctor told him to lie down on the couch.
- She lay down for a quick lie-in.
American English
- I'm going to lie down on the couch for a bit.
- He lay down on the grass to look at the clouds.
- Just lie down and try to relax.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial use.
American English
- No common adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- It's a lie-down area for staff. (less common compound)
- He had a good lie-down.
American English
- She took a lie-down nap. (rare)
- A quick lie-down break.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am tired. I will lie down.
- The cat likes to lie down in the sun.
- Lie down on your bed.
- You look pale; maybe you should lie down for a moment.
- After the long hike, we all lay down on the soft grass.
- He lay down and closed his eyes.
- She advised him to lie down and elevate his leg after the sprain.
- Refusing to take the criticism lying down, he drafted a formal complaint.
- The dog lay down obediently at his master's command.
- The therapist instructed the patient to lie down on the analytic couch and begin free association.
- The opposition warned they would not lie down and accept the controversial legislation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: You LIE down to rest. You LAY an object down. 'Lie' and 'recline' both have 'i's.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUBMISSION IS LYING DOWN (e.g., 'take it lying down'), INACTIVITY IS A HORIZONTAL POSITION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'lay down' (класть) – 'lie down' is непереходный (ложиться).
- Do not translate as 'lie' (лгать). The pronunciation is different (/laɪ/ vs /laɪ/), but the spelling is identical in the base form.
Common Mistakes
- *I lay down on the bed yesterday. (Correct: I lay down / I lay down).
- *He is laying down. (Incorrect for 'resting'; correct: He is lying down).
- *Lie down the baby. (Incorrect; 'lay the baby down' is correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct past tense form of 'lie down' in the sentence: 'Yesterday, I _____ on the sofa after work.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Lie down' is intransitive (you do it yourself). 'Lay down' is transitive (you do it to something else, e.g., lay the book down). The past tense of 'lie down' is 'lay down', which causes most confusion.
It is a phrasal verb consisting of two words. It is often hyphenated when used as a noun or adjective (a lie-down).
It implies the intention or action of resting, often as a precursor to sleep, but it does not strictly mean 'fall asleep'. For example, 'I lay down but couldn't sleep.'
The present participle is 'lying down'. Example: 'He is lying down in his room.'