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lie3 S3
1 [countable] something that you say or write that you know is untrue COLLOCATIONS 
COLLOCATIONS
tell (somebody) a lie a complete/outright lie a big lie a blatant lie (=a shocking lie) a bald-faced lie American English a barefaced lie British English (=a shocking lie) a white lie (=a lie that is not serious, told to avoid upsetting someone) a pack of lies (=a completely untrue set of statements) a tissue of lies British English (=a completely untrue set of statements) live a lie (=pretend that a situation is satisfactory when it is not)
COLLOCATIONS tell (somebody) a lie a complete/outright lie a big lie a blatant lie (=a shocking lie) a bald-faced lie American English a barefaced lie British English (=a shocking lie) a white lie (=a lie that is not serious, told to avoid upsetting someone) a pack of lies (=a completely untrue set of statements) a tissue of lies British English (=a completely untrue set of statements) live a lie (=pretend that a situation is satisfactory when it is not)
2 to show that something is untrue : 
This report gives the lie to the company's claims.
give the lie to something
formalThis report gives the lie to the company's claims.3 the way that a situation is developing at a particular time : I want to see how the land lies before I decide whether or not to take the job.
the lie of the land/ the way the land lies
I want to see how the land lies before I decide whether or not to take the job.4 used when you realize that something you have just said is not correct : It was £25, no, tell a lie, £35.
(I) tell a lie
British English spokenIt was £25, no, tell a lie, £35.WORD CHOICE WORD CHOICE
lay, lieThe verb lay must have an object. It is a slightly literary way to say 'put something somewhere' • She lays a silk cloth over the table.The verb lie does not have an object. It means 'be or get into a horizontal position somewhere' • Let's lie on the grass. • Lie down here for a while.!! lay is also the past tense of lie • I lay on the couch and tried to relax. The past tense of lay is laid • He laid his hand on my shoulder. ➔ See also lay
WORD CHOICE lay, lieThe verb lay must have an object. It is a slightly literary way to say 'put something somewhere' • She lays a silk cloth over the table.The verb lie does not have an object. It means 'be or get into a horizontal position somewhere' • Let's lie on the grass. • Lie down here for a while.!! lay is also the past tense of lie • I lay on the couch and tried to relax. The past tense of lay is laid • He laid his hand on my shoulder. ➔ See also lay
