lie down

verb

lay down; lain down; lying down; lies down

intransitive verb

1

: to submit meekly or abjectly to defeat, disappointment, or insult

—used chiefly in the phrase take (something) lying down

… if Walker does get the go-ahead to implement his anti-union law, the teachers in Madison aren't going to take it lying down, Matthew says. They may walk out on the job again.

—Matthew Rothschild

2

: to fail to perform or to neglect one's part deliberately

—used chiefly in the phrase lie down on the job

While the Sanitation Department was accused of lying down on the job, the police were accused of harassment …

—Walter Thabit

see also lie entry 1 sense 1b

Examples of lie down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rue lies down on the couch and gives the bottle of painkillers a lingering look before listening to the audiobook version of the Bible and drifting off. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026

The employee gave Rosario Lopez cash from the register and was ordered to lie down as Rosario Lopez fled, officials said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2026

In turn, that energy was transferred to the group, who worked so hard that several members were seen lying down to recover at some points during the concert. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The others were lying down in the nest; one had a wing outstretched along its side. — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lie down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.