lie in wait meaning

Definition of lie in wait

1. wait in hiding to attack

   Synonyms: ambush, scupper, bushwhack, waylay, lurk, ambuscade

   Type of: wait

lie in wait in a sentence

• The tiger lies in wait in the head-high grass, ready to pounce.
• The police lied in wait, ready to swoop in.

How to pronounce lie in wait

lie in wait is pronounced /laɪ ɪn weɪt/ in British English and /laɪ ɪn weɪt/ in American English. It has 3 syllables.