lying around

USAGE SUMMARY

"lying around" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is in an untidy, unorganized state, usually on the ground or other surface. For example, "The room was a mess with toys lying around everywhere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Think anyone noticed what was lying around?

The New York Times

Would you just leave them lying around?

The New Yorker

Who left them lying around?

The New York Times

"People were lying around, nodding off".

The New York Times

The others are just lying around somewhere".

The Guardian - Books

There were no cigarette ends lying around.

The Guardian - Travel

Mobile phones, cash, anything valuable lying around".

The Guardian

"They'll generally pick up whatever's lying around".

The Guardian

They had piles of it lying around".

The New Yorker

Also, containers lying around tend to breed Asian tiger mosquitoes!

Cornell University

Don't leave food lying around; use tightly sealed garbage cans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the state of objects, use "lying around" to emphasize a lack of organization or intentional placement. For example, "The documents were lying around the office after the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using "lying around" when the subject is a person; in that case, "lying" alone or "lying down" might be more appropriate unless you are referring to a group of people in a disorganized manner (e.g. "People were lying around, nodding off").

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lying around" is a phrasal verb, acting as a modifier to describe the state of being scattered or casually placed. Ludwig confirms that this is correct and usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig show the phrase describing everything from keys to bodies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

23%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lying around" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe items that are scattered or not properly stored. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage in English writing. It typically conveys a sense of disorganization or casual placement and is frequently found in news articles, online wikis, and academic writing. While its register is generally neutral to informal, writers should be mindful of its potential connotations and choose more formal alternatives when appropriate. Common errors include applying the phrase to people in incorrect contexts or confusing it with similar-sounding phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lying nearby

Similar, but less common and less idiomatic

scattered about

Focuses on the dispersed arrangement of items.

laying about

Similar in meaning but can also imply inactivity.

strewn around

Emphasizes a more haphazard or messy distribution.

littered about

Suggests an untidy and unwanted distribution.

left out

Emphasizes the act of abandoning or forgetting something

available nearby

Highlights the accessibility of something in the vicinity.

unattended

Highlights the lack of supervision or care for something

present in the area

A more formal way to indicate something's presence.

situated nearby

Focuses on the location or position of something.

FAQs

How can I use "lying around" in a sentence?

You can use "lying around" to describe objects that are scattered and not neatly arranged, such as "There were toys "scattered about" the room" or "I found some spare change "present in the area"."

What's the difference between "lying around" and "laying around"?

"Lying around" refers to being in a horizontal or resting position, or scattered about, while "laying around" (though less common and often considered incorrect) would imply the act of placing something down in a casual manner. It's generally safer to use "lying around" for both meanings.

What can I say instead of "lying around"?

Alternatives to "lying around" include "scattered about", "strewn around", or "littered about", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "things are lying around"?

Yes, it is correct to say "things are lying around". It indicates that the items are scattered or not properly stored, as in "Things were "strewn around" after the party."