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

The animals also will seek shade and a comfortable place to lie down. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 July 2024

After presenting it, Otis respectfully kept his distance, lying down and waiting for the cat to decide on his reaction. —David Faris, Newsweek, 9 July 2024

Sit or lie down and get comfortable in a quiet area away from distractions. —Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 8 July 2024

These are literal trails where ants lay down a pheromone on the path to a food source to attract other ants from their colony. —Tamara Gane, Southern Living, 7 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.