lie in state
if an important person who has died lies in state, their body is put in a public place so that people can go and look at the body in order to show their respect for that person

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

lie in state
to place a person's body where it can be seen by the public.
The President's body lay in state in the Capitol for three days and thousands walked by his coffin to pay their respects.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lie in state
after death a famous person (usually a political leader) sometimes lies in a state of honor in an open coffin so the public can see his or her body
The President lay in state for three days after his death.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

lie in state
v. phr. Of a dead person: To lie in a place of honor, usually in an open coffin, and be seen by the public before burial.
When the president died, thousands of people saw his body lying in state.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲