lying on the lawn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lying on the lawn" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is positioned horizontally on a grassy area, typically for relaxation or leisure. Example: "After a long week, I enjoyed lying on the lawn, soaking up the sun and listening to the birds chirping."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"As long as you get your work done, you can be lying on the lawn or sitting at the grilled cheese bar".

The Guardian - Arts

It is the equivalent of the child lying on the lawn on a dreamy summer day, watching earwigs and ants in the grass as they act out another, entirely microscopic existence.

The New York Times - Books

Candy spent her lunch hour lying on the lawn outside the V.A. hospital, sending nicotine clouds into the cloudless sky, wondering whether it would be better to have one leg and no arms — or, if you were lucky enough to have an arm and a leg left, whether it would be better to have them on opposite sides, for balance.

The New Yorker

"The children are just decorating Nic's coffin!" To this day, I don't know if the woman over the garden fence turned tail due to the pure shock of those words, or whether she actually thought my father was in the white cardboard casket lying on the lawn.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I have spent many a night lying on the lawn of Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, swilling white wine under a starry Berkshire's sky and listening to world-class music.

Huffington Post

"Lying on the lawn is a fundamentally uncomfortable thing to do.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Outside, the bodies lay on the lawn.

The New Yorker

A coiled green garden hose lies on the lawn.

The Guardian

In the morning a portion of cupola lay on the lawn.

The New Yorker

By midnight six hundred and eleven lay on the lawn and four hundred more were still in the river".

The New York Times

Darcy still lies on the lawn, basking like a lioness, and barks at the pickups going up the road.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lying on the lawn", ensure the context clearly indicates a relaxed or leisurely activity. Avoid using it in situations where the act of lying down implies distress or injury.

Common error

Be careful not to use "lying on the lawn" when you actually mean something was simply placed or situated on the lawn. "Lying" implies a deliberate action or state of being, so use more neutral verbs like "resting" or "placed" when describing inanimate objects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lying on the lawn" primarily functions as a present participle phrase describing a state of being or an action in progress. Ludwig examples show it describing people or objects in a reclined or resting position. The auxiliary verb (e.g., 'is', 'was') is often omitted but implied.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lying on the lawn" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a state of relaxation or repose outdoors. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news reports to lifestyle articles. While alternatives like ""reclining on the grass"" or ""lounging on the lawn"" exist, it's crucial to maintain clarity and relevance in your writing, ensuring the chosen phrase aligns with the intended nuance. As the provided examples show, "lying on the lawn" effectively conveys a sense of peaceful leisure or observation within a manicured or domestic setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reclining on the grass

Replaces "lying" with "reclining", suggesting a more relaxed or leisurely posture.

lounging on the lawn

Substitutes "lying" with "lounging", implying a state of comfortable relaxation.

resting on the grass

Replaces "lying" with "resting", indicating a temporary state of repose.

stretched out on the lawn

Emphasizes the act of extending the body while lying down.

prone on the grass

Uses "prone" to specify a face-down position, adding detail about the body's orientation.

flat on the lawn

Highlights the flatness of the body's position against the ground.

sprawled on the grass

Suggests a more casual and unarranged posture.

relaxing on the lawn

Focuses on the act of relaxation rather than the physical position.

basking on the grass

Implies enjoying warmth and sunlight while lying down.

reposing on the lawn

Offers a more formal and literary alternative to "lying".

FAQs

How can I use "lying on the lawn" in a sentence?

You can use "lying on the lawn" to describe someone relaxing outdoors, such as, "After a long day, she enjoyed "lying on the lawn" and watching the clouds."

What are some alternatives to "lying on the lawn"?

Alternatives include "reclining on the grass", "lounging on the lawn", or simply "relaxing on the grass".

Is it correct to say "laying on the lawn" instead of "lying on the lawn"?

No, "laying" requires a direct object. "Lying" is the correct verb to use when referring to oneself or someone else in a reclined position. For example: I was "lying on the lawn", not laying something on the lawn.

What is the difference between "lying on the lawn" and "lying in the grass"?

While similar, ""lying on the lawn"" typically implies a more manicured or domestic setting, whereas "lying in the grass" can refer to any grassy area, including fields or meadows.