Meaning of lie In English

• 0 to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface:

  • to lie in bed

  • to lie on a beach

  • to lie on your side

  • A cat lay in front of the fire.

  • He lies awake at night, worrying.

  • A pen lay on the desk.

  • There's an old pair of shoes of yours lying at/in the bottom of the wardrobe.

  • The river lies 30 km to the south.

  • The team is lying third in the league.

  • Here lies the body of Mary Taylor (= this is where Mary Taylor is buried).

  • There are several houses lying empty in the town.

  • The town lay in ruins.

  • The ship lies off (= is positioned near) the coast of Spain.

  • The hardest part of the competition still lies ahead of us.

  • Responsibility for the disaster must ultimately lie with the government.

  • Where does the blame lie?

• 1 to say or write something that is not true in order to deceive someone:

  • Are you lying to me?

  • Don't trust her - she's lying.

  • I suspect he lies about his age.

• 2 something you say that you know is not true:

  • I told a lie when I said I liked her haircut.

• 3 to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface:

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] The mechanic was lying on his back underneath my car.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] I love to lie down in front of the fire and read.

  • [ L ] He lies awake at night, worrying.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] The river lies 40 miles to the south of us.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] You shouldn’t leave that check lying around (= not in its place).

• 4 to say something that is not true in order to deceive:

  • [ I ] Both witnesses lied to the police about what happened.

  • [ T always + adv/prep ] She lied her way past the guards.