lie with

Idioms  

1. Be decided by, dependent on, or up to. For example, The choice of restaurant lies with you. Starting about 1300 this phrase meant “to have sexual intercourse with,” a usage that is now obsolete. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

While backing France's right to impose such a ban, the European Commission in January said that any enforcement would lie with the European Union, provided the bill conforms to the bloc's laws.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“Their faces serve as a constant reminder of what has been lost. The responsibility to keep children safe online should not lie with parents alone,” the website for the memorial said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Many of the problems with hybrid work lie with management, specifically bosses who don’t know how, or haven’t been trained, to manage teams that aren’t located together.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 16, 2025

However, no care provider will take on the contract, and there is still disagreement over whether staff can lie with him, something his family said was vital.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

He'll lie with a straight face till kingdom comes—but he can't be sure of her!

From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie