lie down

verb

lay down; lain down; lying down; lies down

intransitive verb

1

: to submit meekly or abjectly to defeat, disappointment, or insult

—used chiefly in the phrase take (something) lying down

… if Walker does get the go-ahead to implement his anti-union law, the teachers in Madison aren't going to take it lying down, Matthew says. They may walk out on the job again.

—Matthew Rothschild

2

: to fail to perform or to neglect one's part deliberately

—used chiefly in the phrase lie down on the job

While the Sanitation Department was accused of lying down on the job, the police were accused of harassment …

—Walter Thabit

see also lie entry 1 sense 1b

Examples of lie down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But just like that time Texas’ snitch line was flooded with Bee Movie scripts, the internet has not taken Trump’s mandate lying down. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 23 Jan. 2025

Leo instantly digs in, making little smacking noises in his hurry to devour it, while still lying down in his bed. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

When meetings and marches had little effect, Black mother Rosie Simpson launched a protest of wagons being installed at 73rd and Lowe by lying down to block the construction. —Erik Wallenberg, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025

Five quickly becomes six when Reggie Walsh heads home, but Merstham still refuse to lie down. —Stuart James, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.