lie down

verb

lay down; lain down; lying down; lies down

: 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

: 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

Examples of lie down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Once all items have been removed and the walls and ceilings are fully dusted, lay down drop cloths to catch any drips. Wash the walls: Motherhead recommends using plain warm water for general cleaning and soapy water for walls with stains. —

Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024 Lifestyle and dietary adjustments: This may include exercising regularly, reducing stress, sleeping in a certain position (e.g., more upright), waiting a certain amount of time after eating to lie down, and avoiding certain foods. —

Joy Emeh, Health, 19 Sep. 2024 The Ukrainians instructed the Russians to lie down and put their hands behind their heads. —

David Axe, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024 Miles, 6, was photographed lying down in a ball pit, wearing a white jacket and smiling. —

Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lie down

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lie down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.