Lie
/laɪ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo be or put oneself in a flat or horizontal position on a surface.
/laɪ/
To recline or be in a horizontal position.
The dog lies on the rug.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're super tired and want to relax. 'Lie' means to put your body down on a bed, the floor, or anywhere comfy to rest. For example, 'I'm going to lie down for a nap.'
👶 For kids: To rest your body down on something, like the bed or the floor.
More Examples
She lies in bed reading a book.
After the race, the exhausted runner lay down.
How It's Used
"He lies on the beach to sunbathe."
"The wounded knight lay upon the cold stone floor."
To state something you know to be untrue, with the intention of deceiving someone.
/laɪ/
To make a false statement intentionally.
He lied to his parents about where he was.
💡 Simply: When you 'lie', you're saying something that isn't true on purpose. For example, if your mom asks if you ate the cookies and you say, 'No,' but you did, then you're lying!
👶 For kids: To say something that is not true.
More Examples
It is wrong to lie.
She lied to get out of trouble.
How It's Used
"He was accused of lying under oath."
"She lied about her age to get into the concert."
A false statement made deliberately.
/laɪ/
A false statement made intentionally.
The story was a complete lie.
💡 Simply: A 'lie' is something that isn't true that someone says on purpose. For example, if a friend tells you a 'lie' about what happened at school, it's not the real story.
👶 For kids: Something that is not true that someone says.
More Examples
He was accused of telling lies.
She couldn't believe his lies.
How It's Used
"The defense attorney proved the statement was a lie."
"He was caught telling a lie."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
lie low
To avoid attention or notice; to keep out of sight or trouble.
"After the argument, he decided to lie low for a few days."
a white lie
A harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.
"She told a white lie to spare his feelings about the gift."
tell a lie
To state something known to be untrue.
"He was caught telling a lie."
From Old English *līeġan* (to lie down, rest) and *lēogan* (to speak falsely), both from Proto-Germanic *leuganą*. The two words diverged over time, with the former relating to a position and the latter to untruth.
The word 'lie' in the sense of reclining or resting has been used since Old English, while the sense of stating an untruth emerged with the development of the concept of deception.
Memory tip
Think of 'lying down' on a bed.
Word Origin
"related to resting (līeġan) and to speak falsely (lēogan)"