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Difference between Be laid low and Lie low

be laid low

1. (of a disease or injury) cause a person to take to bed:

  • I’ve been laid low with this cough most of the winter.

2. be defeated or forced into a humble position:

  • Kidd was laid low by an incredible run of sheer bad luck.

Note:

a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be low—feel weak or depressed; be in low spirits:

  • I am low today. What is it that makes one day good and another bad?

b) The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase be laid up

1. = be laid low 1:

  • The test pilot, Robert Turner, was laid up with back injuries for months.

2. (of a ship) be put in dock, as for repairs:

  • In 1910 she stranded in Singapore and was laid up with hull damage.

lie lowkeep a low profile; try to be inconspicuous:

  • Sarah decided to lie low until the train got underway again.