Synonyms

lie low

Idioms

Also lay low. Keep oneself or one's plans hidden; bide one's time to act. For example, The children lay low, hoping their prank would soon be forgotten, or The senator decided to lay low until his opponent had committed herself to raising taxes. This expression calls up the image of a hunter concealed in the brush, waiting for game. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He felt he had two options: "Go to the police and say, 'I'm in the Interpol system,'" and risk arrest or lie low.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

For years, Fox and his wife have been visiting West Maui to play golf and lie low.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024

If you’re hiking with a group, and are within a few hours of help, your best bet may be to lie low.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2023

You'd think that if Santos had any common sense, he'd lie low and try to weather the storm.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2023

I’ve always had one important rule in the classroom, which is to try to lie low.

From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023