1 B1 informal
(British English) to stay in bed later than usual in the morning.
"It's Saturday — I'm going to have a proper lie-in and not get up until noon."
inseparable
lie in
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
To stay in bed later than usual in the morning; also (of something) to consist of or exist within something.
In plain English
To stay in bed late on purpose; or when the solution or problem is found inside something.
What does "lie in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To consist of or exist within something; to be found in a particular source or cause.
"The real challenge lies in convincing people to change their habits."
“
The strength of the team lies in its diversity.
inseparable
3 C1 formal
(Historical) for a woman to be confined to bed before and after giving birth.
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To be lying inside something or to remain lying in one's bed.
Actually means
To stay in bed late on purpose; or when the solution or problem is found inside something.
Usage tip
The 'stay in bed late' sense is primarily British English; American English prefers 'sleep in'. As a noun, 'a lie-in' (British) means a morning spent in bed. The abstract sense 'the answer lies in...' is common in both British and American formal writing.
Words that pair with "lie in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
morning weekend answer problem solution Saturday
How to conjugate "lie in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lie in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lies in
he/she/it
Past simple
lay in
yesterday
Past participle
lain in
have + pp
-ing form
lying in
continuous
Hear "lie in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lie in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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