# lie before

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lie-before
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

to put oneself at the whim of, to bow down to

## Examples

- You should not lie before anyone who treats you badly.
- The king demanded that his subjects lie before him to show their total loyalty.
- History remembers those who refused to lie before the invaders, even when faced with the threat of certain death.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.