lay low

lay (one) low

To render one unable to move or leave their bed. The car accident laid her low for a couple of months. My husband won't be able to come in to work today—he's been laid low by the flu.
See also: lay, low

lay low

1. To be, make oneself, or remain hidden or inconspicuous; to avoid being found, detected, or scrutinized by others. (A common erroneous variation of the grammatically correct "lie low.") I'm sorry I haven't been around to see you lately, but with the police investigating the company I thought it would be better to lay low for a while. Jim and Colby are laying low with the goods. Once the heat from the cops eases up, they'll send the stuff over to us.
2. By extension, to keep to oneself; to avoid interactions with others. I think I'm just going to lay low at home this weekend—I don't really feel like going out at all.
See also: lay, low

lie low

1. To be, make oneself, or remain hidden or inconspicuous; to avoid being found, detected, or scrutinized by others. (Also worded as "lay low.") I'm sorry I haven't been around to see you lately, but with the police investigating the company I thought it would be better to lie low for a while.
2. By extension, to keep to oneself; to avoid interactions with others. I think I'm just going to lie low at home this weekend, I don't really feel like going out at all.
See also: lie, low
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

lay low

1. To keep oneself or one's plans hidden.
2. To bide one's time but remain ready for action.
3. To cause to be dead or unable to get up from a lying position: How many soldiers were laid low in that battle? The flu has laid low thousands.
See also: lay, low
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • lay (one) low
  • lay somebody low
  • lay someone low
  • drive (one) to distraction
  • drive someone to distraction
  • drive to distraction
  • render up
  • climb into (something)
  • go to bed with
  • go to bed with somebody
References in periodicals archive
He was accused of mak-mak ing the necessary arrangements forthe gang to lay low at the Kent house of Jack Willbye, 67, whose labourer son Sam, 29, spent time with Herbert in Spain.
City Cregan help trial man cleared
Lay Low's staccato acoustic playing was as distinctive as her charming vocals.
On the beat: Rob Nichols
Helped by his mum he dug a hole 17ins wide and 6ft long at his family home - and lay low for more than two decades.
I hid from Saddam in this hole for 22yrs
Many times after a merger we lay low and want to let the dust settle.
Survivor instinct: how a strategic executive read all the corporate signs-and played her vantage points
This gene seemed to control HSV-1's capacity to lay low. However, after years of searching, scientists hadn't located any LAT-encoded protein, which would offer clues to how the gene exerts its life-sustaining effect on cells.
Herpes runs interference; researchers discover how virus sticks around
There are two schools of thought when it comes to promotional retailing in the summer: Have a huge tent sale or lay low until the fall.
TO TENT OR NOT TO TENT?