# lie down

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lie-down
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to move your body into a flat, horizontal position to rest or sleep.

For teachers: to assume a horizontal or recumbent position. The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Examples

- I feel a bit dizzy, so I need to lie down.
- After a long day at the office, he usually likes to lie down on the couch for twenty minutes before cooking dinner.
- The exhausted hikers were grateful to finally lie down on their sleeping mats once the camp was fully established.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I'm tired, I think I'll lay down." but "I'm tired, I think I'll lie down." — 'Lay' requires a direct object, while 'lie' is used for the subject's own body position.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is intransitive and describes the subject's own physical action.
- Teaching tip: Focus on the distinction between 'lie' (intransitive) and 'lay' (transitive), as even native speakers frequently conflate the two in casual speech.

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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.