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lie down

A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To put your body flat — on a bed, sofa, or the ground.

Literal meaning: To move one's body into a horizontal position on a surface.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To move one's body into a horizontal position on a surface.

"She felt dizzy and had to lie down on the sofa."

"Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!"

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

(Figurative, usually negative) to accept something bad or unfair without resistance.

"We won't take these cuts lying down — we'll fight them every step of the way."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

One of the most commonly confused verbs for learners is 'lie down' vs. 'lay down'. 'Lie down' is intransitive (no object), while 'lay down' is transitive (needs an object). Very common in everyday speech. Also used figuratively: 'I won't take this lying down' = I will resist this.

Commonly used with

bed sofa grass floor rest nap

Forms

Base
lie down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lies down
he/she/it
Past simple
lay down
yesterday
Past participle
lain down
have + pp
-ing form
lying down
continuous

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