Subject: Re: Lying in State
From: Karl Johanson
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.fandom
David Bilek wrote in message
>
> Marilee J. Layman wrote:
>>
>> Bill Higgins wrote:
>>
>>>I see that the body of President Ronald Reagan will be lying in
>>>state in the capitol Rotunda later this week.
>>>
>>>What makes "lying in state" different from simply "lying?"
>>>In other words, what is the special meaning of the phrase?
>>
>>It's given honors. The platform-thingie was built for Lincoln's
>>casket.
>
> I thought "lying in state" was what politicians did after they died,
> while "lying" was what they did before they died.
>
Now I don't think that you should suggest that all politicians lie.
It's not all of them, but the politicians who do lie give the other 5% a bad name.