lie behind

phrase causality

The phrase "lie behind" is often used to identify hidden or underlying causes or motivations for actions, events, or situations.

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Definition

B2General

(common)To be the hidden cause or reason for something.

Example

What lies behind his sudden decision to quit?
Economic factors often lie behind political unrest.

B1Spatial

(literal)To be situated at the back of or beyond something.

Example

A small garden lies behind the house.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "lie behind":

lie over lie upon lie with lie in lie by lie before lie in the way lay in lay about lay over lie around lay on lay by lie down lie back hide behind lay back lay down give the lie lay open hang behind lay figure stay behind lay away stand behind lay to lay into get behind fall behind lay bare lie on the oars live down lay low lay on the line lie detection