Hier liegen wir selten richtig, geschweige denn immer.

Here richtig liegen is an idiomatic expression meaning to be correct or to be right.

So:

• richtig liegen = to be right
• falsch liegen = to be wrong

It does not mean physically lying down.

Examples:

• Du liegst richtig. = You’re right.
• Ich lag falsch. = I was wrong.

So Hier liegen wir selten richtig means something like We are rarely right here / on this point.

Because German main clauses usually follow the verb-second rule.

The first position is taken by Hier, so the conjugated verb must come next:

• Hier | liegen | wir | selten richtig

If you started with Wir, then you would say:

• Wir liegen hier selten richtig.

Both are grammatical, but the emphasis changes a little. Starting with Hier puts focus on here / in this matter / in this case.

Not necessarily. Hier can be literal, but very often it means something more like:

• here
• in this case
• on this point
• in this matter

So in this sentence, hier may refer to the topic currently being discussed, not just a physical location.

Here richtig is part of the expression richtig liegen.

So the sentence is built around:

• wir liegen richtig = we are right

Then selten modifies that idea:

• wir liegen selten richtig = we are rarely right

In other words, selten tells you how often, and richtig tells you in what way.

Geschweige denn is a fixed expression meaning:

• let alone
• much less

It is used when the first statement already sounds unlikely, limited, or negative, and the second one is even stronger.

So the logic is:

• We’re rarely right here
• let alone always

That means: if we are not even often right, then we are certainly not always right.

No. In geschweige denn, you should treat the whole thing as one fixed expression.

So:

• geschweige denn = let alone / much less

The word denn here does not mean because.

That is a very common source of confusion, because denn can mean other things in other contexts, but in this phrase you should learn it as a single unit.

Because geschweige denn introduces a contrasting follow-up element, and it is normally separated by a comma.

So:

• Hier liegen wir selten richtig, geschweige denn immer.

The comma helps mark the break between the first statement and the stronger second idea.

Because German often leaves out repeated material when it is easy to understand from context.

After geschweige denn, the sentence is shortened. The full idea is something like:

• geschweige denn immer richtig
• or more loosely: let alone always be right

The words liegen and richtig are understood from the first part.

So immer by itself works because the rest is implied.

Because geschweige denn sets up a scale.

If something is true only rarely, then a stronger claim like always is even less possible.

So the structure is:

• weaker / already doubtful statement: selten richtig
• stronger / even less likely statement: immer

This is exactly the kind of contrast geschweige denn is used for.

Yes, it is definitely used and widely understood, but it can sound a bit more polished or written than very basic everyday speech.

A simpler way to express the same idea might be:

• Hier liegen wir selten richtig, erst recht nicht immer.

That is more direct and conversational.

But geschweige denn is completely normal and useful to know.

Yes. A more expanded version could be:

• Hier liegen wir selten richtig, geschweige denn immer richtig.

That makes the missing part after geschweige denn more visible.

You could also rephrase the meaning as:

• Hier liegen wir selten richtig, und schon gar nicht immer.

That is a very natural paraphrase in German.