lie over
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
When a decision or item is left to be dealt with later; or an old word for stopping somewhere overnight during a trip.
Literal meaning: To remain lying over or on top of something — as if an unresolved matter is resting atop a schedule.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
formal
(Formal) to be postponed or deferred to a future meeting or date.
"The vote on the budget will lie over until the committee reconvenes next month."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 formal
(Archaic/formal) to stop and spend the night somewhere during a journey.
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
The sense of being deferred (e.g., in a meeting or parliament) is formal. The travel sense is largely replaced by 'lay over' in American English or 'stop over' in British English. Both senses are infrequent in modern everyday speech.
Commonly used with
matter decision bill question business item
Forms
Base
lie over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lies over
he/she/it
Past simple
lay over
yesterday
Past participle
lain over
have + pp
-ing form
lying over
continuous
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