lie (one's) way into (something or some place)

To obtain something or gain access to a particular place or thing through deceit. We tried to lie our way into the party, but we were immediately recognized as freshmen and told to leave. He didn't actually have any of the proper certifications—he just lied his way into the job.

lie about

1. To tell a falsehood or mistruth about (something). I know you spent the money, I just don't understand why you feel you need to lie about it to me. While a bit of embellishment is all right, never lie about your experience on a résumé.

2. To recline or loiter lazily; to loaf. You can't just lie about here all summer long. Either find a job and start paying rent, or find somewhere else to live. My friends and I always loved lying about at the lake near our neighborhood when we were kids.

3. To be placed or located in a haphazard or careless location or position. Usually used in the continuous tense. You can't leave such sensitive information lying about—someone could see it who's not meant to. Why are all these boxes lying about? Someone could trip over them!

lie at (one's) door

To be one's responsibility. Typically said of something negative. I'm the coach, and I called a bad play, so any blame for this loss lies at my door.

lie at the bottom of (something)

To be the fundamental cause of something. Stubbornness lies at the bottom of every unresolved disagreement.

lie at the heart of (something)

To be the central part or most crucial element of something. What are the issues that truly lie at the heart of the homelessness crisis? Until we identify and account for those, we cannot suggest meaningful, long-term solutions. I suspect that grief lies at the heart of his angry outburst. It's only been a few months since his brother died, after all.

lie behind (someone or something)

1. To be positioned behind someone or something. The gym lies behind the school.

2. To be in someone's or something's past. Don't be concerned about what lies behind you, only what lies ahead. Everything that lies behind us is what makes us who we are—the good and the bad.

3. To be the underlying cause of, reason for, or motivation behind something. I just don't know what lies behind his anger these days. Many believe it was the government's exorbitant taxes that lay behind the population's uprising.

lie down on the job

To not work as hard as one should; to shirk one's responsibilities. If you lie down on the job again, you can be sure you'll be fired—there are plenty of guys who'd take your place in a minute.

lie in (one's) hands

To be under one's control or influence. You're the boss now. The decision lies in your hands. The success of the team really lies in their best player's hands. Now that she's injured, well, there goes the season.

lie like a cheap rug

To lie brazenly and barefacedly. A pun on the dual meanings of "lie." My brother always lies like a cheap rug to get out of trouble with our parents. I just can't understand how they still believe him at this stage. You know you have true power when you can lie like a cheap rug, know that people don't believe you, and know that they'll go along with what you say regardless.

lie like a rug

To lie brazenly and barefacedly. A pun on the dual meanings of "lie." My brother always lies like a rug to get out of trouble with our parents. I just can't understand how they still believe him at this stage. You know you have true power when you can lie like a rug, know that people don't believe you, and know that they'll go along with what you say regardless.

lie like a tombstone

To lie brazenly and barefacedly. Possibly from the fact that tombstone epitaphs favor positive descriptions of the deceased over factual characterizations. My brother always lies like a tombstone to get out of trouble with our parents. I just can't understand how they still believe him at this stage. You know you have true power when you can lie like a tombstone, know that people don't believe you, and know that they'll go along with what you say regardless.

lie like a trooper

To lie often and barefacedly. My brother lies like a trooper to get out of trouble with our parents. I just can't understand how they still believe him at this stage. You know you have true power when you can lie like a trooper, know that people don't believe you, and know that they'll go along with what you say regardless.

lie through (one's) teeth

To lie brazenly and unabashedly. Stop lying through your teeth—we have evidence that you were here the night of the crime.

lie to (one)

To tell one an untruth or falsehood. Don't lie to me—was it you who took the money? He's been lying to his employees for months about the state of the company.

lie about

1. [for someone] to recline lazily somewhere. She just lay about through her entire vacation. Don't lie about all the time. Get busy.

2. [for something] to be located somewhere casually and carelessly, perhaps for a long time. This hammer has been lying about for a week. Put it away! Why are all these dirty dishes lying about?

lie about someone or something (to someone)

to say something untrue about someone or something to someone. I wouldn't lie about my boss to anyone! I wouldn't lie about anything like that!

lie down on the job

and lay down on the job

Fig. to do one's job poorly or not at all. (Lay is a common error for lie.) Tom was fired because he was laying down on the job. You mean he was lying down on the job, don't you?

lie like a rug

S/. to tell lies shamelessly. He says he didn't take the money, but he's lying like a rug. I don't believe her. She lies like a rug.

lie like a trooper

tell lies constantly and flagrantly. Compare with swear like a trooper (at swear).

lie down on the ˈjob

(informal) not do a job properly: I’m not going to employ anybody here who lies down on the job. I only want people who work hard.

lie like a rug

in. to tell lies shamelessly. He says he didn’t take the money, but he’s lying like a rug.

lie like a tombstone

To tell an untruth. Epitaphs written on headstones often exaggerate the deceased's relationships, accomplishments, and even personal data. The dearly departed may not in fact have been “beloved by his family” or “a brave soldier” or even born in the year in which he did indeed first see the light of day. Therefore, “here lies” can have a dual meaning.