lying

Everyday

1. Lying means resting flat on something, like lying in bed or a book lying on a table. tree →
2. Lying also means saying something that you know is not true. tree →
3. A lying person is someone who tells lies. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: things resting somewhere and counted: books lying on a table, coins lying on the ground; it just says where. In logic puzzles: «lying» means telling an untruth (knights always tell the truth, knaves are always lying). Safety and life: lying down when you feel dizzy; lying is wrong and breaks trust. In stories: a dog lying by the fire, a character caught lying. Phrases: lying down, lying in bed, lying around, lying on the floor, stop lying.

Examples

• There are 9 apples lying on the grass. tree →
• 4 books are lying on the desk. tree →
• She found 3 coins lying on the floor. tree →
• How many shoes are lying by the door? tree →
• The cat was lying in the sun. tree →
• He was lying when he said he had done his homework. tree →
• Do not leave toys lying on the stairs; someone could trip. tree →
• If you feel faint, try lying down. tree →
• In the puzzle, one of the two boys is lying. tree →
• ‘Who’s been lying on my bed?’ tree →

Note

Two different verbs share «lying»: lie (to rest flat) has past «lay» and «lain»; lie (to say what is untrue) has past «lied». Do not confuse with «laying» (putting something down: laying a table). Carries no clue; it just says where counted things are. Trap: in logic puzzles, «lying» means telling an untruth.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it can mean lying down, as in sleeping with someone, or lying in wait to ambush, or telling falsehoods ("lying words"). The prophets speak of "lying words" and "lying vanities," meaning false hopes and idols, and Proverbs names a lying tongue among things God hates.

Interpretation. The law forbids lying and false speech, and "lying with" is a gentle way to speak of marriage relations. The tradition says a person must keep far from falsehood. The prophets' lying vanities are read as idols that cannot help.

Examples

• But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. (Torah NUM.31.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait, (Torah NUM.35.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard lying words.' (Torah EXO.5.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. (Prophets JER.7.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (Prophets JON.2.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; (Writings PRO.6.17, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Two different verbs share «lying»: lie (to rest flat) has past «lay» and «lain»; lie (to say what is untrue) has past «lied». Do not confuse with «laying» (putting something down: laying a table). Carries no clue; it just says where counted things are. Trap: in logic puzzles, «lying» means telling an untruth.