Lay is often used where lie is considered standard, as in "I'm going to lay down for a quick nap." The use, which dates to the 14th century, troubled no one until the 18th, but since then, people who care about such things have tried to teach the rest of us that a person lies, not lays, down. Lies synonyms, Lies pronunciation, Lies translation, English dictionary definition of Lies. intr.v.

Understanding the Context

lay , lain , ly ing , lies 1. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep. A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the intention of deceiving or misleading someone. [1][2][3] The practice of communicating lies is called lying.

Key Insights

A person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Music video by Morgan Wallen performing Lies Lies Lies (Lyric Video).© 2024 Big Loud Records, under exclusive license to Mercury Records, a division of UMG R... If something lies unused, it is just sort of left to lie on the shelf (or wherever). If you let a sleeping dog lie, you're just letting him be right where he is — in the same position. While most people agree that lies are damaging, destructive, and downright wrong, there are times when people tell what they think are harmless lies as a way to prevent further harm.

Final Thoughts

Research suggests that people tell, on average, one to two lies per day — and that estimate almost certainly undercounts the subtler forms. What’s more revealing is why we lie, how we lie, and what those choices reveal about our inner world. Because not all lies are created equal.