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Synonyms

lie low

Idioms  
  1. 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.

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Being a de facto enemy of the state quickly teaches you where is it safe to be yourself, who are your allies, when to lie low — and when to fight back.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 2, 2025

David Olusoga also got a couple of votes, including one from Carr, who managed to mostly lie low during the discussion, along with Burns.

From BBC Oct. 30, 2025

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

They lie low on top of the train.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

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