lie 1
/luy/ , n. , v. , lied, lying .
n.
1. a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.
2. something intended or serving to convey a false impression; imposture: His flashy car was a lie that deceived no one.
3. an inaccurate or false statement.
4. the charge or accusation of lying: He flung the lie back at his accusers.
5. give the lie to ,
a. to accuse of lying; contradict.
b. to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.
v.i.
6. to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.
7. to express what is false; convey a false impression.
v.t.
8. to bring about or affect by lying (often used reflexively): to lie oneself out of a difficulty; accustomed to lying his way out of difficulties.
9. lie in one's throat or teeth , to lie grossly or maliciously: If she told you exactly the opposite of what she told me, she must be lying in her teeth.
Also, lie through one's teeth .
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE lyge; c. G Lüge, ON lygi; akin to Goth liugn; (v.) ME lien, OE leogan (intransit.); c. G lügen, ON ljuga, Goth liugan ]
Syn. 1. prevarication, falsification. See falsehood. 6. prevaricate, fib.
Ant. 1. truth.
lie 2
/luy/ , v. , lay, lain, lying , n.
v.i.
1. to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position, as on a bed or the ground; recline.
2. (of objects) to rest in a horizontal or flat position: The book lies on the table.
3. to be or remain in a position or state of inactivity, subjection, restraint, concealment, etc.: to lie in ambush.
4. to rest, press, or weigh (usually fol. by on or upon ): These things lie upon my mind.
5. to depend (usually fol. by on or upon ).
6. to be placed or situated: land lying along the coast.
7. to be stretched out or extended: the broad plain that lies before us.
8. to be in or have a specified direction; extend: The trail from here lies to the west.
9. to be found or located in a particular area or place: The fault lies here.
10. to consist or be grounded (usually fol. by in ): The real remedy lies in education.
11. to be buried in a particular spot: Their ancestors lie in the family plot.
12. Law. to be sustainable or admissible, as an action or appeal.
13. Archaic. to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.
14. lie by ,
a. to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
b. to lie unused: Ever since the last member of the family died, the old house has lain by.
15. lie down , to assume a horizontal or prostrate position, as for the purpose of resting.
16. lie down on the job , Informal. to do less than one could or should do; shirk one's obligations.
17. lie in , to be confined to bed in childbirth.
18. lie in state . See state (def. 14).
19. lie low . See low 1 (def. 45).
20. 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.
21. lie to , Naut. (of a ship) to lie comparatively stationary, usually with the head as near the wind as possible.
22. lie up ,
a. to lie at rest; stay in bed.
b. (of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.
23. lie with ,
a. to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
b. Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.
24. take lying down , to hear or yield without protest, contradiction, or resistance: I refuse to take such an insult lying down.
n.
25. the manner, relative position, or direction in which something lies.
26. the haunt or covert of an animal.
27. Golf. the position of the ball relative to how easy or how difficult it is to play.
[ bef. 900; ME lien, liggen, OE licgan; c. G liegen, D liggen, ON liggja, Goth ligan; akin to Gk léchesthai to lie down ]
Syn. 25. place, location, site.
Ant. 1, 2. stand.
Usage . See lay 1 .