lie down

Formslies down, lying down, lay down, lain down

1. 1
   phrasal verbintransitive

   To move into a flat, horizontal position, as on a bed, a sofa or the ground.

   If you feel dizzy, lie down and put your feet up.

   The old dog lay down by the fire and was soon asleep.

   Similarrecline

   Oppositerise, stand

   Note

   The forms are where people stumble: the past is lay down and the participle lain down (she lay down an hour ago; she had lain down to rest). That past looks exactly like the present of lay down, to put something down, so careful writers keep the two apart: I lay down for a nap, not I laid down.

2. 2
   a short restnoun · lie-downCommonwealthcountable

   A short rest taken lying flat, as on a bed or sofa.

   After the long drive, Gran went upstairs for a lie-down.

   The twins still need two lie-downs a day, or they're impossible by teatime.

   Similarrest, nap, snooze

   Note

   As a noun it takes a hyphen, lie-down, while the verb stays two words. It belongs especially to Commonwealth English and usually comes with have (have a lie-down, softened to a little or a wee lie-down) though you can also go upstairs for one or need one. An American is more likely to take a nap.

3. 3
   give inphrasal verbintransitive

   To give in or submit passively, without resisting.

   The workers refused to lie down and accept the pay cuts.

   Critics accused the senator of lying down in the face of pressure from his donors.

   Similarsubmit, yield, capitulate, surrender

   Oppositeresist

   Note

   It is usually heard in refusal: I'm not going to lie down and take this. The usual company is and take it or and accept something, naming what is being put up with. Unlike the slacking meaning, it is about surrender, not laziness.

4. 4
   be lazyphrasal verbintransitive

   To be lazy or careless about one's duties.

   The manager accused the night crew of lying down on the job.

   Inspectors found that the safety officer had been lying down on the job for months, signing reports he never checked.

   Similarslack, loaf

   Note

   The fixed phrase lie down on the job carries most of this sense: it is said of someone slacking at work, the picture being a worker stretched out when he should be on his feet. Said of a team that stops trying, it is just as much a criticism.

5. 5
   have sexphrasal verbeuphemisticintransitive

   A euphemism for having sexual intercourse with someone.

   She swore she would not lie down with any man she did not love.

   In the old ballad, the shepherd lay down with the miller's daughter and was gone by morning.

   Similarsleep

   Note

   The euphemism always takes with and a partner: lie down with someone. It has a literary, slightly old-fashioned ring, at home in ballads and stories; in everyday talk sleep with does the same job.

6. 6
   dog commandphrasal verbintransitiveimperative

   Used as a standard command to a herding dog to lie flat, because the dog's position affects how the herd moves.

   "Lie down!" the shepherd called, and the collie dropped flat in the grass.

   When the flock began to scatter, she whistled twice and shouted, "Lie down, Bess!"

   Note

   The everyday act of lying flat becomes a working signal here: a herding dog that drops to the ground eases its pressure on the flock, and the animals slow or settle. Get up is the opposite command, sending the dog moving again.

Showing meanings only. Show all 6