The fields lay fallow under the burning sun. It had been too wet to plant last spring.
2. Fig. [for a skill and talent] to remain unused and neglected. •You should not let your talent lie fallow. Practice the piano before you forget how to play it.
•His writing had lain fallow for so long that he could hardly write a proper sentence.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
fallow — fal‧low [ˈfæləʊ ǁ loʊ] adjective 1. FARMING fallow land has been dug but is not being used for growing crops, giving the quality of the soil a chance to improve: • fallow land • a fallow field 2. lie fallow FARMING if … Financial and business terms
fallow — fallow1 [fal′ō] n. [ME falow < OE fealh, akin to fealh, harrow, felly (of wheel) < IE base * pelk , to turn > Gael olca, fallow land] 1. land plowed but not seeded for one or more growing seasons, to kill weeds, make the soil richer, etc … English World dictionary
Lie — Lie, v. i. [imp. {Lay} (l[=a]); p. p. {Lain} (l[=a]n), ({Lien} (l[imac] [e^]n), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lying}.] [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
lie — I n. falsehood 1) to tell a lie 2) to give the lie to ( to prove to be false ) 3) a bald faced, barefaced, blatant, brazen, deliberate, downright, monstrous, outright, transparent, whopping; white lie 4) a pack, tissue, web of lies 5) (misc.) to… … Combinatory dictionary
fallow — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English falow, from Old English fealu; akin to Old High German falo pale, fallow, Latin pallēre to be pale, Greek polios gray Date: before 12th century of a light yellowish brown color II. noun Etymology: Middle… … New Collegiate Dictionary
fallow — adj. uncultivated to lie fallow (the field lay fallow) * * * [ fæləʊ] [ uncultivated ] to lie fallow (the field lay fallow) … Combinatory dictionary
fallow — fal|low [ˈfæləu US lou] adj [: Old English; Origin: fealg] 1.) fallow land is dug or ↑ploughed but is not used for growing crops ▪ They let the land lie fallow for a year. 2.) fallow period a time when nothing is done or achieved ▪ The band went… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Fallow-ground — The expression, Break up your fallow ground (Hos. 10:12; Jer. 4:3) means, Do not sow your seed among thorns , i.e., break off all your evil habits; clear your hearts of weeds, in order that they may be prepared for the seed of righteousness.… … Easton's Bible Dictionary
fallow — adjective fallow land is dug or ploughed (plough2 (1)) but is not used for growing crops: Dig over the plot in autumn and let it lie fallow over winter … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
fallow — Idle crop land. The most common reasons in modern agriculture are to conserve moisture for future use and for weed control. In extremely dry areas, for instance, wheat is grown every other year. Fields lie fallow … Combined glossary of agriculture
To lie along the shore — Lie Lie, v. i. [imp. {Lay} (l[=a]); p. p. {Lain} (l[=a]n), ({Lien} (l[imac] [e^]n), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Lying}.] [OE. lien, liggen, AS. licgan; akin to D. liggen, OHG. ligen, licken, G. liegen, Icel. liggja, Sw. ligga, Dan. ligge, Goth. ligan … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
