lying on the shelf

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lying on the shelf" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an item or object that is physically located on a shelf. For example, "She found the book she was looking for lying on the shelf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I found the marker lying on the shelf and I guess I was bored.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The invitation lay on the shelf in the nursery one Friday afternoon, the party was a week later on the Saturday, and every morning that week Vanja asked if it was Stella's party that day.

The New Yorker

I lay on the shelf over the VW's engine as birch forests ticked past; my friends at home were going to the beach (with boys!), and I was in the Yukon.

The New York Times - Magazine

Great machines and prefabricated palaces for the people were being transported along the railway on flatcars; thick books lay on the shelves of the library; splendid people were travelling in trains.

The New Yorker

Although this study is based on North Sea target sites for geological storage, the model and the general conclusions are relevant to the majority of offshore storage sites lying on the continental shelf.

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

The Kara Sea lies on the Siberian Shelf; thus, about 40 percent of it is less than 160 feet (50 m) deep, and only 2 percent is over 1,600 feet (500 m) deep.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Con Dao Island lies on the Sunda Shelf in the southwestern SCS, where the waters are very shallow (Mitsuguchi et al. 2007).

Geoscience Letters

New Caledonia is on the east of the Lydekker's Line, which separates the eastern edge of Wallacea from the Australian Region (which lies on the Sahul Shelf), marking a distinct change in floristic affinities.

Botanical Studies

And we parents, too, are enchanted -- shelling out hundreds of dollars for the fantasy; the delight in our daughters and sons; the dolls that will eventually find places on shelves, in closets, lying on the beds of grown children away at college.

Huffington Post

Ireland, which, like Great Britain, once formed part of this landmass, lies on the European continental shelf, surrounded by seas that are generally less than 650 feet (200 metres) deep.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Lucas's current show at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds runs the gamut of mimetic willies, from Au Naturel (1994, an actual cucumber poking out of a mattress) to Courgette (2002, a concrete courgette lying on a shelf).

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lying on the shelf" to clearly indicate the physical placement of an object. This is especially useful in descriptive writing or inventory reports.

Common error

A common mistake is using "lay" instead of "lie". Remember, "lie" (lying) is intransitive (doesn't take a direct object), while "lay" (laying) is transitive (takes a direct object). So, it's correct to say, "The book is lying on the shelf", not "The book is laying on the shelf".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lying on the shelf" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the state or position of an object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lying on the shelf" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is suitable for describing the physical placement of an object. While it can be tempting to mistakenly use "laying", remember that "lie" is intransitive. This phrase is frequently found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, and is considered to be neutral in register. Use it to clearly and accurately depict an object's location. Alternative phrases include "resting on the shelf" or "placed on the shelf".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resting on the shelf

Replaces "lying" with "resting", suggesting a state of being at ease on the shelf.

sitting on the shelf

Describes the object as occupying the shelf space, similar to 'lying'.

placed on the shelf

Focuses on the action of putting something on the shelf rather than its current state.

located on the shelf

Emphasizes the position of the item on the shelf.

left on the shelf

Suggests the item was abandoned or forgotten on the shelf.

atop the shelf

Uses a more formal preposition to indicate the item's position on the shelf.

on the shelf

Shortened version focusing on location.

upon the shelf

Uses a more formal preposition to indicate the item's position on the shelf.

awaiting on the shelf

Adds the element of waiting.

abandoned on the shelf

Emphasizes the sense of neglect.

FAQs

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

You can use "lying on the shelf" to describe an object's position. For example, "The forgotten toy was "lying on the shelf", gathering dust."

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

Alternatives include "resting on the shelf", "placed on the shelf", or simply "on the shelf", depending on the context. For instance, a product might be "available on the shelf".

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

No, "laying on the shelf" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""lying on the shelf"". "Lay" requires a direct object.

What does it mean when something is "on the shelf" in a figurative sense?

Figuratively, "on the shelf" can mean that something is not currently being used or considered, similar to a project that's "on the back burner". However, when literally ""lying on the shelf"" it refers to the object's physical location.