"Take this lying down"

Posted by Woody on August 01, 2003

Just watching an old Jimmy Stewart western movie. The citizens of a town are handed out corrupt justice by a crooked local judge. Jimmy asks " dose everybody around here just "take this lying down?". In other words to accept the ruling without questioning it or revolting against it.
Where did this come from?

• "Take this lying down" R. Berg 02/August/03