take lying down
Endure without protest
To take something lying down is to accept mistreatment, insult, or defeat without resistance or protest.
The phrase almost always appears in the negative: I'm not going to take this lying down.
Someone who refuses to take it lying down fights back, complains, or seeks redress rather than passively submitting.
- put upErect or accommodate
- toleratePermit without approval
- grin and bear itEndure hardship without complaint
- abideTo tolerate or remain
- stomachDigestive organ below chest
bear · brook · turn the other cheek · defeatism · acquiesce · roll over · give in · endure · submit · stand your ground · acceptance · stand · stick out · succumb · doormat · stoicism · suffer · yield
take lying downfight back
Oppose an attacker
resist · push back · put up a fight · stand one's ground · hit back
take lying downassert oneself
Declare one's position firmly
speak up · make a stand · hold one's head high · talk back · answer back
take lying downstand up to
Confront without retreating
assert oneself · speak up · confront · challenge · protest
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, takeover, takeoff, takeaway