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

Despite the care team's best efforts to coax Mars out of the water, the playful baby hippo remained stubborn, lying down and even running away from his handlers. —Eric Noll, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2025

Passive rest involves minimal to no physical activity (e.g., sleeping, lying down, or sitting still). —Noma Nazish, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

The proposal, spearheaded by Mayor Kevin McCarty, would bar people from sitting or lying down on the property except in limited circumstances. —Mathew Miranda july 28, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2025

If its fighters lay down their weapons, the war is over. —Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

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.