lie in wait
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To wait in a concealed position with the intent to ambush or attack someone: This phrase describes the act of hiding and staying still, typically with a hostile purpose, until a target appears.
Usage
This verb phrase is used to describe a deliberate, secretive, and often menacing act of waiting. It implies planning and patience for a harmful or criminal purpose. - It is typically used in contexts involving crime, warfare, hunting, or metaphorical descriptions of betrayal. - The phrase is often followed by a prepositional phrase starting with "for" (e.g., lie in wait for).
Examples
- The detective warned that the assailant might be for his next victim near the park.
- The soldiers in the dense jungle, ready to ambush the enemy patrol.
- In the animal kingdom, predators like lions often near watering holes.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative Use: Can be used metaphorically to describe waiting for an opportunity to criticize, challenge, or surprise someone in a non-physical context.
- He knew that criticism was lying in wait for him as soon as he published his controversial article.
Variants and Related Words
- Ambush (verb/noun): To attack from a concealed position; a surprise attack.
- Lurk (verb): To wait in a hidden place, often but not always with sinister intent.
- Waylay (verb): To intercept or attack from a concealed position.
Synonyms
- Ambush
- Lurk
- Skulk
- Bushwhack
Related Phrases
- Lie in ambush: A less common variant with identical meaning.
- Wait in ambush: A more literal phrasing.
Notes
- The past tense of the verb "lie" in this phrase is lay (e.g., ). This is distinct from the past tense of the verb "to lie" meaning to tell an untruth ().
- The phrase is often used in passive constructions like "be lying in wait."
Verb
- wait in hiding to attack