How do you use "lie" in a sentence?

Don't lie to me – I know the truth. I need to lie down for a bit. The town lies on the coast.

lie

Q: What does "lie" mean?

To say something untrue; to be in a horizontal position Lie has two distinct meanings: to tell an untruth (past: lied), or to be in a flat position (past: lay, past participle: lain). 'White lie' is a harmless untruth. 'Lie down' means to rest horizontally. Be careful not to confuse 'lie' (to recline) with 'lay' (to put something down).

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: To say something untrue; to be in a horizontal position

说谎；躺

mentir; estar acostado

嘘をつく；横たわる

거짓말하다; 눕다

Lie has two distinct meanings: to tell an untruth (past: lied), or to be in a flat position (past: lay, past participle: lain). 'White lie' is a harmless untruth. 'Lie down' means to rest horizontally. Be careful not to confuse 'lie' (to recline) with 'lay' (to put something down).

「lie」有两个不同的含义：说谎（过去式：lied），或处于平躺的位置（过去式：lay，过去分词：lain）。「white lie」是无害的谎言。「lie down」意味着水平休息。注意不要把「lie」（躺）和「lay」（放置）混淆。

«Lie» tiene dos significados distintos: decir una mentira (pasado: lied), o estar en posición horizontal (pasado: lay, participio pasado: lain). «White lie» es una mentira inofensiva. «Lie down» significa descansar horizontalmente. Cuidado de no confundir «lie» (reclinarse) con «lay» (poner algo).

「lie」には2つの異なる意味があります：嘘をつく（過去形：lied）、または平らな姿勢でいる（過去形：lay、過去分詞：lain）。「white lie」は無害な嘘です。「lie down」は水平に休むことを意味します。「lie」（横たわる）と「lay」（置く）を混同しないように注意してください。

Lie는 두 가지 뚜렷한 의미가 있습니다: 거짓을 말하다(과거: lied), 또는 평평하게 눕다(과거: lay, 과거분사: lain). 'White lie'는 해가 없는 거짓말입니다. 'Lie down'은 수평으로 쉬는 것을 뜻합니다. 'lie'(눕다)와 'lay'(놓다)를 혼동하지 않도록 주의하세요.

Ejemplos

Don't lie to me – I know the truth.
不要对我撒谎——我知道真相。
No me mientas – sé la verdad.
嘘をつかないで——真実を知っているの。
거짓말하지 마세요——저는 진실을 알고 있어요.
I need to lie down for a bit.
我需要躺一会儿。
Necesito acostarme un rato.
少し横になる必要があります。
잠깐 누워야 합니다.
The town lies on the coast.
这个小镇位于海岸边。
El pueblo está situado en la costa.
その町は海岸沿いにあります。
그 마을은 해안에 위치해 있습니다.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: general

Tono: neutral

Origen e historia

Two separate Old English words merged: 'lyge' meaning 'falsehood' (from 'lēogan', to tell lies) and 'licgan' meaning 'to recline'. Their identical modern spelling has caused endless grammatical confusion.

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Historia y curiosidades

The confusion between 'lie' and 'lay' is one of the most common grammar mistakes in English. 'Lie' means to recline (I lie down), while 'lay' means to put something down (I lay the book on the table) - but 'lay' is also the past tense of 'lie'!

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