Dictionary.com
definitions

lie-in

1
[lahy-in]
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lie-in ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a protest demonstration in which participants lie down in a public place against regulations and resist being moved.

RELATED CONTENT

Lay vs. Lie: Miley, Sufjan, and Grammatical Snafus in Pop StardomSinger-songwriter Sufjan Stevens wrote an open letter to Miley Cyrus addressing her use of the word laying in her song “Get It Right.” The lyric in question: “I been laying in this bed all night long.” Before addressing the grammatical sin of “I been,” Sufjan explains that Miley should have used the word lying in place of laying. What’s the difference between the two? Lying …
READ MORE
Lay vs. LieThe difference between the verbs lay and lie is one of English’s thornier cases of confusion. Both words involve something or someone in a horizontal position, but where the two words deviate has to do with who or what is horizontal—the subject of the verb (the one doing the action) or the direct object (the person or thing being acted upon). When to use lay …
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

strike, protest, parade, sit-in, walkout, manifest, march, picket, fast, rally, teach-in, lie-in, love-in

Nearby words

  1. lidia,
  2. lidice,
  3. lidless,
  4. lido,
  5. lidocaine,
  6. lie detector,
  7. lie down,
  8. lie group,
  9. lie in,
  10. lie in state

Origin of lie-in

1
First recorded in 1960–65; see origin at lie2, -in3

lie-in

2
[lahy-in]

noun Chiefly British.

an act or instance of staying in bed longer than usual, especially in the morning.

Origin of lie-in

2
First recorded in 1865–70; noun use of verb phrase lie in

lie

2
[lahy]

verb (used without object), lay, lain, ly·ing.

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.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

lie by,
  1. to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
  2. 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,
  1. to be confined to bed in childbirth.
  2. 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,
  1. to lie at rest; stay in bed.
  2. (of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.
lie with,
  1. to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
  2. Archaic.to have sexual intercourse with.

Origin of lie

2
before 900; Middle English lien, liggen, Old English licgan; cognate with German liegen, Dutch liggen, Old Norse liggja, Gothic ligan; akin to Greek léchesthai to lie down

Usage note

See lay1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for lie in

lie in

verb (intr, adverb)

to remain in bed late in the morning
to be confined in childbirth

noun lie-in

a long stay in bed in the morning

Lie

noun

Trygve Halvdan (ˈtryɡvə ˈhalðan). 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman; first secretary-general of the United Nations (1946–52)

lie

1

verb lies, lying or lied

(intr) to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive
(intr) to convey a false impression or practise deceptionthe camera does not lie

noun

an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead
something that is deliberately intended to deceive
give the lie to
  1. to disprove
  2. to accuse of lying
Related formsRelated adjective: mendacious

Word Origin for lie

Old English lyge (n), lēogan (vb); related to Old High German liogan, Gothic liugan

lie

2

verb lies, lying, lay (leɪ) or lain (leɪn) (intr)

(often foll by down) to place oneself or be in a prostrate position, horizontal to the ground
to be situated, esp on a horizontal surfacethe pencil is lying on the desk; India lies to the south of Russia
to be buriedhere lies Jane Brown
(copula) to be and remain (in a particular state or condition)to lie dormant
to stretch or extendthe city lies before us
(usually foll by on or upon) to rest or weighmy sins lie heavily on my mind
(usually foll by in) to exist or consist inherentlystrength lies in unity
(foll by with)
  1. to be or rest (with)the ultimate decision lies with you
  2. archaicto 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
  1. to keep or be concealed or quiet
  2. to wait for a favourable opportunity

noun

the manner, place, or style in which something is situated
the hiding place or lair of an animal
golf
  1. the position of the ball after a shota bad lie
  2. the angle made by the shaft of the club before the upswing
lie of the land
  1. the topography of the land
  2. the way in which a situation is developing or people are behaving
See also lie down, lie in, lie to, lie up

Word Origin for lie

Old English licgan akin to Old High German ligen to lie, Latin lectus bed

xref

See lay 1
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
Word Origin and History for lie in
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for lie in

lie

[lī]

n.

The manner or position in which something is situated, especially the relation that the long axis of a fetus bears to that of its mother.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with lie in

lie in

1

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]

2

Also, lie in one's hands or in one's power. 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.

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.