# lie around

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lie-around
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to spend time doing nothing or relaxing, often in a lazy way.

For teachers: to remain in a particular place without moving or working, often implying inactivity or idleness; typically intransitive and separable.

## Examples

- I like to lie around on weekends.
- After finishing his work, he decided to lie around and watch TV all afternoon.
- The students, having completed their exams, spent the following week lying around and enjoying the sunshine.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He lied around the house all day." but "He lay around the house all day." — 'lie' is the correct past tense form, not 'lied', which is the past of 'to lie' (to tell a falsehood).

## Usage notes

- intransitive; no object required, but can be separated in some contexts.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'lie down' (to recline intentionally) and 'laze around' (a near-synonym with a slightly more negative connotation).

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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.