lie
1a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth.
something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture: His flashy car was a lie that deceived no one.
an inaccurate or untrue statement; falsehood: When I went to school, history books were full of lies, and I won't teach lies to kids.
the charge or accusation of telling a lie: He flung the lie back at his accusers.
to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.
to express what is false; convey a false impression.
to bring about or affect by lying (often used reflexively):to lie oneself out of a difficulty; accustomed to lying his way out of difficulties.
Idioms about lie
give the lie to,
to accuse of lying; contradict.
to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.
lie in one's throat / teeth, to lie grossly or maliciously: If she told you exactly the opposite of what she told me, she must be lying in her teeth.: Also lie through one's teeth.
Origin of lie
1synonym study For lie
Other words for lie
| 1 | prevarication, falsification |
| 5 | prevaricate, fib |
Opposites for lie
Words that may be confused with lie
- lie , lye
Words Nearby lie
Other definitions for lie (2 of 3)
to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position, as on a bed or the ground; recline.
(of objects) to rest in a horizontal or flat position: The book lies on the table.
to be or remain in a position or state of inactivity, subjection, restraint, concealment, etc.: to lie in ambush.
to rest, press, or weigh (usually followed by on or upon): These things lie upon my mind.
to depend (usually followed by on or upon).
to be placed or situated: land lying along the coast.
to be stretched out or extended: the broad plain that lies before us.
to be in or have a specified direction; extend: The trail from here lies to the west.
to be found or located in a particular area or place: The fault lies here.
to consist or be grounded (usually followed by in): The real remedy lies in education.
to be buried in a particular spot: Their ancestors lie in the family plot.
Law. to be sustainable or admissible, as an action or appeal.
Archaic. to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.
the manner, relative position, or direction in which something lies: the lie of the patio, facing the water.
the haunt or covert of an animal.
Golf. the position of the ball relative to how easy or how difficult it is to play.
lie by,
to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
to lie unused: Ever since the last member of the family died, the old house has lain by.
lie down, to assume a horizontal or prostrate position, as for the purpose of resting.
lie in,
to be confined to bed in childbirth.
Chiefly British. to stay in bed longer than usual, especially in the morning.
lie over, to be postponed for attention or action at some future time: The other business on the agenda will have to lie over until the next meeting.
lie up,
to lie at rest; stay in bed.
(of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.
lie with,
to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.
Origin of lie
2confusables note For lie
Other words for lie
Opposites for lie
Other definitions for Lie (3 of 3)
Jonas, 1880–1940, U.S. painter, born in Norway.
(Ma·ri·us) So·phus [mah-ree-oos soh-foos], /ˌmɑ ri ʊs ˈsoʊ fʊs/, 1842–99, Norwegian mathematician.
Tryg·ve Halv·dan [trig-vuh-hahlv-dahn; Norwegian tryg-vuh-hahlv-dahn], /ˈtrɪg və ˈhɑlv dɑn; Norwegian ˈtrüg və ˈhɑlv dɑn/, 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman: secretary-general of the United Nations 1946–53.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use lie in a sentence
They will learn that deadly incompetence, based on lies and lunacy and costing countless lives, means nothing.
That woman from George-a is foolish, full of fantasy and lies.
Style Invitational Week 1425: Picture this — a cartoon caption contest | Pat Myers | February 25, 2021 | Washington PostGilbert was given a lie detector test along with another police officer, who considered himself a friend of Lewis’ — the same officer who would call me many years later.
Another that comes to mind is how the insurrection contributed to fringe conservative media having to reckon with the fact that spreading lies about a stolen election has real-world impacts.
How Has The Nation Changed Since The Insurrection At The Capitol? | Micah Cohen (micah.cohen@fivethirtyeight.com) | February 11, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightA lot of the problems that we’re facing are the lies that probably are going to be protected by the First Amendment.
Twenty-Six Words Created the Internet. What Will It Take to Save It? | Stephen Engelberg | February 9, 2021 | ProPublica
My doctor insisted that once I filed this piece I lie down on my bed and not get out.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 | Vicky Ward | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI lie and nod my head yes while wiping the tears on my gray fleece sleeve.
“I knew it was a lie from the beginning,” Patrick told WLOS.
It is, in fact, legal for police to lie to suspects during interrogations.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities | Elizabeth Picciuto | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut he drew me close And he swallowed me down, Down a dark slimy path Where lie secrets that I never want to know […].
They are ovoid in shape, and lie in pairs, end to end, often forming short chains.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddHowever this be, it is hard to say that these fibs have that clear intention to deceive which constitutes a complete lie.
Children's Ways | James SullyThe "bad form" of telling a lie to the head-master is a later illustration of the same thing.
Children's Ways | James SullyThe word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThe hut was barely high enough to let him sit up, and long enough to let him lie down—not to stretch out.
The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
British Dictionary definitions for lie (1 of 3)
/ (laɪ) /
(intr) to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive
(intr) to convey a false impression or practise deception: the camera does not lie
an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead
something that is deliberately intended to deceive
give the lie to
to disprove
to accuse of lying
Origin of lie
1Other words from lie
- Related adjective: mendacious
British Dictionary definitions for lie (2 of 3)
/ (laɪ) /
(often foll by down) to place oneself or be in a prostrate position, horizontal to the ground
to be situated, esp on a horizontal surface: the pencil is lying on the desk; India lies to the south of Russia
to be buried: here lies Jane Brown
(copula) to be and remain (in a particular state or condition): to lie dormant
to stretch or extend: the city lies before us
(usually foll by on or upon) to rest or weigh: my sins lie heavily on my mind
(usually foll by in) to exist or consist inherently: strength lies in unity
(foll by with)
to be or rest (with): the ultimate decision lies with you
archaic to have sexual intercourse (with)
(of an action, claim, appeal, etc) to subsist; be maintainable or admissible
archaic to stay temporarily
lie in state See state (def. 13)
lie low
to keep or be concealed or quiet
to wait for a favourable opportunity
the manner, place, or style in which something is situated
the hiding place or lair of an animal
golf
the position of the ball after a shot: a bad lie
the angle made by the shaft of the club before the upswing
lie of the land
the topography of the land
the way in which a situation is developing or people are behaving
Origin of lie
2lie
British Dictionary definitions for Lie (3 of 3)
/ (liː) /
Trygve Halvdan (ˈtryɡvə ˈhalðan). 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman; first secretary-general of the United Nations (1946–52)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with lie
In addition to the idioms beginning with lie
- lie down
- lie in
- lie in state
- lie in wait
- lie low
- lie through one's teeth
- lie with
also see:
- barefaced lie
- give the lie to
- (lie) in state
- lay of the land (how the land lies)
- let sleeping dogs lie
- make one's bed and lie in it
- take lying down
- white lie
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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