lie doggo

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To lie quiet and still in order to avoid detection; also (by extension), to stay hidden by being discreet and not drawing attention; to keep a low profile, to lie low.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I used to send out spies, and act on their information. As soon as a man came in and told me of a gang in hiding, I'd take thirty men with some grub, and go out and look for them, while the other subaltern lay doggo in camp.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “lie doggo” mean?

To lie quiet and still in order to avoid detection; also (by extension), to stay hidden by being discreet and not drawing attention; to keep a low profile, to lie low.

Is “lie doggo” formal or informal?

lie doggo is generally slang.