Phrase
lying in wait
埋伏；潜伏等待
lying in wait is the present participle of lie in wait.
To be hiding, waiting to ambush or attack someone, or simply to accost them unexpectedly.
- 1.
To be hiding, waiting to ambush or attack someone, or simply to accost them unexpectedly.
埋伏等待,伺机攻击或突然搭讪
埋伏等待,伺机攻击或突然搭讪；埋伏着等待
In use
The cat lay in wait behind the bush, ready to pounce on the mouse.
Reporters were lying in wait outside the courthouse for the celebrity's arrival.
The army has lain in wait for the enemy convoy since dawn.
lie in wait for sb/sth
介词 for 后接等待的对象。
The tiger lay in wait for the deer.
老虎埋伏着等待鹿。
lie in wait to do sth
不定式表示目的。
The soldiers lay in wait to ambush the enemy.
士兵们埋伏着等待伏击敌人。
Verb forms
base lie in wait · third person lies in wait · -ing lying in wait · past lay in wait · past participle lain in wait
lie 的过去式是 lay，过去分词是 lain；注意与及物动词 lay 区分。
Common mistakes
The soldiers lay in wait the enemy.The soldiers lay in wait for the enemy.
错误：遗漏介词 'for'。'lie in wait' 是不及物短语，必须用介词 'for' 引出等待的对象。改正后句子语法正确，语义清晰。
The cat is laying in wait for the mouse.The cat is lying in wait for the mouse.
错误：误用 'laying'（及物动词 'lay' 的现在分词）。'lie in wait' 中的 'lie' 是不及物动词，表示“躺”，其现在分词是 'lying'。改正后符合短语固定用法。
Connections
Learner notes
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.