What does "Lay low" mean?

To hide or keep a low profile to avoid detection. To stay hidden or avoid attention, especially when in trouble or wanted by authorities.

How do you use "Lay low" in a sentence?

He's laying low until things blow over. Better lay low for a while. They told him to lay low after the job.

Lay low

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: To hide or keep a low profile to avoid detection.

躲藏或保持低调以避免被发现。

Esconderse o mantener un perfil bajo para evitar ser detectado.

発見を避けるために隠れる、または目立たないようにする。

발각을 피하기 위해 숨거나 눈에 띄지 않게 지내다

To stay hidden or avoid attention, especially when in trouble or wanted by authorities.

保持隐藏或避免引人注意，尤其是在有麻烦或被当局追捕时。

Permanecer oculto o evitar llamar la atención, especialmente cuando se está en problemas o buscado por las autoridades.

隠れているか注目を避けること。特にトラブルに巻き込まれている時や当局に追われている時。

숨어 있거나 주목을 피하는 것, 특히 곤경에 처했거나 당국에 쫓기고 있을 때.

Literal meaning: Stay low/hidden

Examples

He's laying low until things blow over.
他在躲风头，等事情平息
Está escondido hasta que pase la tormenta
彼は事態が収まるまで身を潜めている
그는 사태가 잠잠해질 때까지 몸을 숨기고 있다.
Better lay low for a while.
最好低调一段时间
Mejor esconderse un tiempo
しばらく身を潜めた方がいい
한동안 몸을 낮추는 게 좋겠다.
They told him to lay low after the job.
干完活后他们让他躲一躲
Le dijeron que se escondiera después del golpe
仕事の後、彼らは彼に身を潜めるよう言った
일이 끝난 후 그들은 그에게 몸을 숨기라고 했다.

Pronunciation

/leɪ ləʊ/

Usage Guide

Context: hiding, avoiding attention, trouble

Tone: cautious, urgent

✓ Do Say

Lay low.
低调点
Escóndete
身を潜めろ
숨어 있어
Laying low.
在躲着
Escondido
身を潜めている
몸을 낮추고 있어
Better lay low.
最好低调点
Mejor esconderse
身を潜めた方がいい
조용히 있는 게 나아

✗ Don't Say

Hide
Hide（躲藏）
Hide（Esconderse）
Hide（隠れる）
Hide（숨다）
Stay hidden
Stay hidden（保持隐藏）
Stay hidden（Permanecer oculto）
Stay hidden（隠れたままでいる）
Stay hidden（숨어 있다）

Common Mistakes

Often confused with 'lie low' (grammatically correct)
Very common in crime contexts

Origin & History

From staying low to avoid detection.

Etymology: English idiom

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Crime movies; Gangster films

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Lay lowLie lowLaying low