Final answer:
The phrase 'lying in the mean' appears to mix up 'lay' and 'lie,' where 'lay' means to place something down, and 'lie' indicates being in a horizontal position or being situated, with 'lay' also being the past tense of 'lie.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "lying in the mean" is not a common idiom or term with a widely recognized definition. However, based on the context provided, it might suggest a misunderstanding or confusion between two verbs, 'to lay' and 'to lie.' To clarify, lay means "to put or set something down," as in 'Please lay the books on the table.' Whereas, lie means "to be in or move into a horizontal position" or "to be situated," as in 'I need to lie down and rest my eyes.' It's essential to note that lay is also the past tense of lie, such as in 'I fell asleep as soon as I lay down to rest my eyes.' The expression could be intended to describe a situation or location that is average, 'mean' being a mathematical term for average, though this interpretation seems less likely given the information provided.