Definition

1. Verb:

   • To be in or assume a horizontal position on a supporting surface: To rest with the body prostrate.
   • To be situated or located in a specific place: To occupy a certain position.
   • To be or remain in a specified state or condition.
   • To originate or be found in something: To have its source or basis.
   • To tell an untruth; to say something that is not true with intent to deceive.

2. Noun:

   • A false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth.
   • The position, direction, or manner in which something is situated.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (to recline):
  • He decided to lie on the sofa for a few minutes.
  • The cat lies in the sun every afternoon.
• Verb (to be situated):
  • The town lies to the north of the river.
  • The answer lies in careful planning.
• Verb (to be in a state):
  • The machine lay idle for months.
  • The castle lies in ruins.
• Verb (to tell an untruth):
  • She never lies to her parents.
  • He lied about his age on the application.
• Noun (false statement):
  • Telling a lie is wrong.
  • His story was full of lies.
• Noun (position/situation):
  • The lie of the land made farming difficult.
  • We need to assess the lie of the political landscape.

Advanced Usage

• "to lie in wait": to hide, waiting to attack or ambush someone.
  • The predator lay in wait for its prey.
• "to lie low": to hide or keep a low profile to avoid attention.
  • After the scandal, the politician decided to lie low for a while.
• "to let something lie": to stop discussing an issue; to leave something undisturbed.
  • It's a sensitive topic; we should just let it lie.

Variants and Related Words

• Liar (n): A person who tells lies.
  • He was exposed as a compulsive liar.
• Lying (v, pres. part. / adj): The act of telling lies; being untruthful.
  • She was accused of lying. (verb)
  • He is a lying witness. (adjective)
• Underlie (v): To be the basis or foundation of something.
  • Several assumptions underlie their theory.

Synonyms

• Verb (recline): Recline, rest, sprawl.
• Verb (be situated): Be located, be situated, exist.
• Verb (tell untruth): Fabricate, fib, prevaricate.
• Noun (falsehood): Falsehood, untruth, fib, fabrication.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lie about/around: To be lazily inactive or to be scattered in a place.
  • Don't just lie about all day; do something productive!
  • His clothes were lying around the room.
• Lie behind: To be the real, often hidden, reason for something.
  • What motives lie behind this sudden generosity?
• Lie down: To recline, especially to rest or sleep.
  • You should lie down if you're feeling dizzy.

Related Idioms

• "to lie through one's teeth": to tell a blatant or outrageous lie.
  • He was clearly lying through his teeth about his alibi.
• "to take something lying down": to accept an insult or bad treatment without protest or resistance.
  • She won't take such criticism lying down.
• "the lie of the land": the current state of affairs or how a situation stands.
  • Before we decide, we need to understand the lie of the land.

Noun

1. position or manner in which something is situated
2. Norwegian diplomat who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations (1896-1968)
3. a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

Verb

1. assume a reclining position
   • lie down on the bed until you feel better
2. have a place in relation to something else
   • The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West
   • The responsibility rests with the Allies
3. tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive
   • Don't lie to your parents
   • She lied when she told me she was only 29
4. be and remain in a particular state or condition
   • lie dormant
5. originate (in)
   • The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
6. be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position
   • The sick man lay in bed all day
   • the books are lying on the shelf
7. be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position