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lying
lie before (someone or something)
1. To physically exist in front or ahead of someone or something. As we trudged through the desert, it looked as though a magnificent oasis lay before us, but it was just a mirage, some accursed trick of the sun. Some worrisome footprints lie before our front door—I hope we've not been burgled!
2. To be or exist in the future of someone or something. One should never presume to know what may lie before them, as life is far often more fickle than that.
lie at (one's) door
To be one's responsibility. Typically said of something negative. I'm the coach, and I called a bad play, so any blame for this loss lies at my door.
lie down
to recline. Why don't you lie down for a while? I need to lie down and have a little snooze.
take something lying down
Fig. to endure something unpleasant without fighting back. He insulted me publicly. You don't expect me to take that lying down, do you? I'm not the kind of person who'll take something like that lying down.
not take something lying down
to refuse to be treated badly by someone He can't just order you about like that. Surely you're not going to take that lying down!
lie down
Also, lie down on the job. Be remiss or lazy. For example, They fired Max because he was always lying down on the job. This expression alludes to lying down in the sense of "resting." [Early 1900s]
take lying down
Submit to an insult, rebuke, or other harsh treatment without resisting, as in
He won't take that snub lying down. This idiom uses
lying down in the sense of "passively." [Late 1800s] Also see
take it, def. 2.
lie down
v. To place the body in a flat, horizontal position; recline: The dog usually lies down in front of the fireplace. After lunch, I lay down under a tree and fell asleep. I had just lain down when the phone rang.
take lying down
Informal To submit to harsh treatment with no resistance: refused to take the snub lying down.