The idiom "take lying down" means to accept an insult, injury, or defeat without resisting. The first word, "take," is pronounced /teɪk/ with a long "a" sound and a hard "k" at the end. The final two words, "lying down," are pronounced /laɪɪŋ daʊn/ with a long "i" sound in "lying" and a soft "d" sound in "down." The spelling of the whole phrase is straightforward and follows standard English spelling conventions.
The idiomatic phrase "take lying down" refers to an individual's passive acceptance or submission to a situation, often unfavorable or unjust, without resistance, protest, or retaliation. This expression conveys the notion of figuratively lying down or reclining, indicating an attitude of passivity, resignation, or endurance, suggesting that someone does not have the will or courage to stand up and fight against or oppose an unacceptable circumstance.
When someone is said to "take lying down," they are essentially choosing not to assert themselves, voice their grievances, or assert their rights in a particular situation. This phrase often implies a sense of powerlessness or feeling powerless, as the individual is willingly accepting and enduring the situation without making any effort to change it.
The connotation of this phrase is that taking an adverse situation "lying down" is an act of submission, weakness, or apathy. It suggests a lack of assertiveness, self-advocacy, or the motivation to defend oneself against undesired outcomes. The figurative sense of "taking lying down" emphasizes a passive approach to conflict or unfavorable circumstances, accepting them as inevitable and refraining from any form of resistance.
In summary, "taking lying down" is an idiomatic expression that signifies a person's submissive acceptance of a situation without putting up a fight or attempting to change it. It embodies an attitude of passive endurance or resignation, implying a lack of assertiveness or the willingness to challenge an unfavorable condition.