lie

S1 W1

BrE /laɪ/ AmE /laɪ/

verb / noun en → es

past lied pp lied ing lying

1 NOT TELLING THE TRUTH [intransitive], [T + obj] A2

to say something that is not true, especially with the intention to deceive someone

mentir

  • lie about sth
  • lie to sb

Collocations lie about your age · lie to the police

  • He lied about his qualifications.

    Él mintió sobre sus calificaciones.

  • She was lying to her parents.

    Ella estaba mintiendo a sus padres.

2 REST [intransitive], [T + obj] A1

to rest in a horizontal position, especially on a bed or the ground

acostarse, tumbarse

  • lie down
  • lie in bed

Collocations lie on the grass · lie in your bed

  • She decided to lie down for a while.

    Ella decidió acostarse por un rato.

  • He was lying in his bed, reading a book.

    Él estaba tumbado en su cama leyendo un libro.

3 STATEMENT [countable] A2

a statement that is not true and is intended to deceive someone

mentira, falsedad

  • tell a lie

Collocations big lie · white lie

  • She told me a big lie.

    Ella me contó una gran mentira.

  • He was caught in his own lies.

    Él fue atrapado en sus propias mentiras.

Phrasal verbs

lie down REST A1

acostarse, tumbarse

  • She decided to lie down for a while.

    Ella decidió acostarse por un rato.

lie in wait HIDE B1

estar acechando, estar escondido esperando

  • The hunter lay in wait for the deer.

    El cazador estaba acechando al ciervo.

Idioms

lie low B2

mantenerse oculto, no llamar la atención

  • He decided to lie low after the robbery.

    Decidió mantenerse oculto después del robo.

lie through your teeth C1

mentir descaradamente, mentir sin ruborizarse

  • He was lying through his teeth.

    Él estaba mintiendo descaradamente.