Definition

Noun: A period of remaining in bed later than usual in the morning, typically for relaxation or extra rest.

Usage

This noun refers to the act or occasion of staying in bed, especially for a leisurely or indulgent purpose. It is commonly used to describe a weekend or holiday morning when one does not have to get up early. It is a single, countable concept (e.g., have a lie-in).

Examples

• I'm not setting an alarm for Saturday because I plan to have a lie-in.
• After working all week, she enjoyed a long lie-in on Sunday morning.
• The best part of the vacation was the ability to have a lie-in every day.

Advanced Usage

• To have a lie-in: This is the most common collocation. It describes the action of enjoying this period of extra rest.
  • The children are at their grandparents', so we can finally have a lie-in.

Variants and Related Words

• Sleep in (phrasal verb): This is a near-synonymous phrasal verb meaning to deliberately sleep later than usual.
  • I'm going to sleep in tomorrow.

Synonyms

• A long sleep
• A lazy morning (in bed)

Notes on Different Meanings

The word "lie-in" as defined here is a specific noun. It should not be confused with the verb phrase "to lie in," which can literally mean to be in a reclining position within a place (e.g., The book lies in the drawer). The hyphenated noun "lie-in" specifically denotes the leisurely activity.

Noun

1. a long stay in bed in the morning