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!
inseparable
lie down
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To move into a horizontal position by placing your body flat on a surface.
In plain English
To put your body flat — on a bed, sofa, or the ground.
What does "lie down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move one's body into a horizontal position on a surface.
Actually means
To put your body flat — on a bed, sofa, or the ground.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "lie down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bed sofa grass floor rest nap
How to conjugate "lie down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "lie down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lie down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.