lie-in
noun
a protest demonstration in which participants lie down in a public place against regulations and resist being moved.
lie-in
1 American
[lahy-in]
/ ˈlaɪˌɪn /
noun
lie-in
2
American
[lahy-in]
/ ˈlaɪˌɪn /
noun
Chiefly British.
lie in
British
verb
-
to remain in bed late in the morning
-
to be confined in childbirth
noun
lie in
Idioms
-
Be in confinement for childbirth, as in She thought she'd be lying in by next week . This usage is probably dying out. The name of Boston's Lying-In Hospital was changed to Women's Hospital in the 1970s. [Mid-1400s]
-
Also, . Rest or depend on something or someone, as in The solution lies in research , or The decision lies in the President's hands , or It does not lie in my power to turn this situation around . [Mid-1300s] Also see lie in wait ; lie through one's teeth .
Etymology
Origin of lie-in1
First recorded in 1960–65; see origin at lie 2, -in 3
Origin of lie-in2
First recorded in 1865–70; noun use of verb phrase lie in
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.
See Examples For:
Joshua says he and other senior managers will be staying up to watch the game, and says if he fancies a lie-in it's only fair to extend that to the rest of the team.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Mr James said: "I haven't had a day off in seven months so I'm quite looking forward to the prospect of a lie-in and not having to complete 26 miles tomorrow."
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025
"I'd rather have a lie-in and eat some donuts", the 21-year-old marketing executive from Kent explains.
From BBC ● May 2, 2023
He likes the lie-in, too, because it annoys the wrong people.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2020
I am now at my brother's house, on my way to Skye, to attend my daughter, who is to lie-in in August; they are all in health at present.
From Memoirs of the Jacobites of 1715 and 1745 Volume III. by Mrs. Thomson
Its origins lie in a genetic mutation that arose thousands of years ago in regions of sub-Saharan Africa.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Neerja Chowdhury suspects the answer may lie in the book's title, Belonging.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
China's advantages lie in manufacturing scale, supply chain integration and cost competitiveness, said Counterpoint Research's Ethan Qi, while the United States is "much stronger" on software and cutting-edge research.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
But the technology’s greater promise may lie in preventing cancer recurrences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Uprooted bushes lie in piles beside the new buildings.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
