laying low
Staying quiet and out of sight.
Also called layin' low, lie low, lay low.
Updated September 24, 2026
laying low pronunciation
/LAY-in loh/
Meaning
Keeping your head down. Maybe you are dodging trouble, gossip, or the law. Maybe you are just taking it easy at the house and not going to town. Rural Southern talk usually says laying low or layin' low, even when school books prefer lie low.
How folks use it
- “He's been laying low since that fight at the ball field.”
- “We're just laying low this weekend. Too hot to mess with anything.”
Origin and etymology
From the older idiom lie low, meaning stay hidden. American backwoods talk had "lay low and keep dark" by the 1830s (Davy Crockett). Southern speech often uses lay for lie, so laying low became the natural form.
Frequently asked questions
Is it lay low or lie low?
Textbook English likes lie low. Everyday Southern talk often says lay low or laying low. Same idea either way.