1. Home
2. Idioms
3. lie low

lie low

---

---

lie low

 and lay low

Fig. to keep quiet and not be noticed; to avoid being conspicuous. (Lay is a common error for lie.) I suggest you lie low for a few days. The robber said that he would lay low for a short time after the robbery.

See also: lie, low

lie low

to hide so you will not be caught by someone All we could think to do was to get into the woods - any woods - as fast as possible and just lie low.

Usage notes: often confused in form with lay someone low (to weaken someone)

Related vocabulary: lie in wait

See also: lie, low

lie low

to remain hidden so that you will not be found We thought someone might have seen us leaving the building, so we figured we'd better lie low for a while.

See also: lie, low

lie low

Also lay low. Keep oneself or one's plans hidden; bide one's time to act. For example, The children lay low, hoping their prank would soon be forgotten, or The senator decided to lay low until his opponent had committed herself to raising taxes . This expression calls up the image of a hunter concealed in the brush, waiting for game. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

See also: lie, low