let

let1 [ let ] (past tense and past participle let) verb ***

▸ 1 allow

▸ 2 for showing anger etc.

▸ 3 for giving order

▸ 4 rent room/house/etc.

▸ 5 in mathematics

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to allow something to happen:

let someone/something do something: I stepped back and let him pass.

Alice's mom won't let her come with us.

Let your imagination run wild.

let something in/out/through etc.: Open the windows and let some fresh air into the room.

There are holes between the stones that let the wind through.

let someone know (=tell someone): Let us know what time you want us to be there.

let yourself: She lets herself be talked into all kinds of schemes.

a ) used for offering to do something:

Here, let me help you.

2. ) transitive always in imperative used for showing that you are angry or tired, and do not care what happens:

Let her do all the work for a change!

3. ) transitive always in imperative used for giving an order or instruction:

Let the games begin!

4. ) intransitive or transitive MAINLY BRITISH to rent a room, apartment, house, etc. to someone:

let something to someone: He's let his cottage to some people from London.

a ) to/for let MAINLY BRITISH available to be rented. American usually for rent

5. ) transitive usually in imperative TECHNICAL used in mathematics for saying that you are imagining that something is true, usually in order to prove a principle of mathematics:

Let x = 5.

Let ABC be a triangle.

let alone

used for saying that something is even less likely to happen than another unlikely thing:

I hardly have time to think these days, let alone relax.

let someone be

to stop annoying someone: LEAVE SB ALONE:

Jimmy, let your sister be!

let something drop/rest

to stop talking about something:

I think we'd better let the matter drop so your father can calm down.

Just let it rest, would you?

let something drop/slip

to say something important either by accident or in a way that makes it seem like an accident:

She casually let it drop that she would be moving to Paris.

In an unguarded moment, he let it slip that he'd lost his job.

let go (of)

to stop holding someone or something:

Let go! That hurts.

She refused to let go of her bag and kicked her attackers several times.

let someone go

1. ) to allow a person or animal to go free:

The police had to let her go because of insufficient evidence.

2. ) INFORMAL to officially tell someone that they can no longer work at a job:

John was let go after it was discovered that he stole some files.

let someone/something go or let go someone/something

to stop holding someone or something:

Let me go!

Reluctantly, he let go her arm.

Let the book go it's mine!

let something go INFORMAL

1. ) to stop thinking or feeling angry about something that is upsetting you

2. ) to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying

let something go for something

if you let something go for a particular amount of money, you agree to sell it for that amount:

I can't let it go for less than $300.

let someone have it VERY INFORMAL

to attack or criticize someone severely

let it be known that

to give information to other people, especially in an indirect way:

He let it be known, during dinner, that he was on the lookout for a wife.

let loose INFORMAL

1. ) to express strong emotions or opinions

2. ) to say or shout something

let me see/think

used for saying that you need a moment to think about something:

Let me see, where did I put my keys?

let me tell you INFORMAL

used for emphasizing what you are saying:

It was quite a show, let me tell you!

let something pass

to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying:

His criticism angered her, but rather than start a fight, she let it pass.

let something ride INFORMAL

1. ) to allow a situation to continue instead of dealing with it immediately:

The longer you let it ride, the harder it will be to fix later.

2. ) to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying

let's

1. ) used for suggesting that you and one or more other people do something:

Let's eat now.

Do you want to leave? Yes, let's!

let us FORMAL: Let us be thankful for each other.

2. ) let's face it used for saying that someone must admit that a situation exists:

Let's face it, he's not cut out for this job.

3. ) let's hope used for saying that you hope something is true or will happen:

Let's hope she never finds out the truth.

I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Let's hope you're right.

4. ) let's (just) say used for saying that you are not going to tell all the details about something:

Let's just say it wasn't her best performance.

5. ) let's say/suppose (that) used for suggesting that a possible situation needs to be considered:

Let's suppose you lose. What will you do then?

let's see

1. ) used for suggesting that you and one or more other people should find the answer to something:

let's see if/whether: Let's see if it works.

2. ) used for saying that you need a moment to think about something:

Let's see, where was I?

let something slide VERY INFORMAL

to not punish someone or react to something they have said

let there be something FORMAL

1. ) used for expressing a prayer or a hope:

Let there be peace on earth.

Let there be no lies between us.

2. ) used for emphasis:

Let there be no mistake about it, this proposal is the best solution.

Let there be no doubt that this was an attack on the whole community.

let yourself go INFORMAL

1. ) to allow yourself to feel and express emotions without trying to control them:

Relax and let yourself go.

2. ) to allow your appearance and health to get worse:

He's really let himself go in the past few years.

never let it be said that OFTEN HUMOROUS

used for emphasizing the opposite of a statement:

Never let it be said that I arrive empty-handed! she said, handing him some bread and cheese.

,let `down phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to make someone disappointed by not doing something they are expecting you to do:

The kids will be let down when they hear you can't come after all.

The families of the victims feel that the justice system has let them down.

a ) to work less hard or make more mistakes than the people you are working with:

She's a great player, and never lets her team down.

Any boy who misbehaves will be letting down the whole school.

2. ) to make someone or something less likely to be successful or effective:

The whole system is let down by the poor quality of the graphics.

3. ) BRITISH to allow the air to go out of something such as a car tire

4. ) to allow someone or something to move to a lower position:

Let the bucket down carefully into the well.

5. ) to use the extra cloth in the HEM (=bottom fold) of a piece of clothing to make it longer

let someone down gently

to try to give someone bad news in a way that does not upset them too much

let the side down INFORMAL

to work less hard or make more mistakes than the people you are working with

,let `in phrasal verb transitive

1. ) let someone in to allow someone to enter a house, room, etc.:

Don't let anybody in I'll be back in 15 minutes.

2. ) INFORMAL to talk to someone about your problems and feelings:

You've got to learn to let me in.

let yourself in for something INFORMAL

to put yourself in a difficult situation:

She didn't know what she was letting herself in for when she married John.

,let `in on phrasal verb transitive

let someone in on something to tell someone a secret:

If you promise not to tell, I'll let you in on a secret.

They were planning something, but they wouldn't let me in on it.

,let `off phrasal verb transitive

1. ) let someone off something BRITISH to allow someone not to do something they were expecting to have to do:

When we were in port, he let me off work and allowed me to go ashore.

2. ) to give someone little or no punishment for something they did wrong:

I was pulled over for speeding, but I was let off with a warning.

let someone off lightly: They let her off lightly because she's only sixteen.

3. ) to allow a passenger to get out of a car or off a bus:

You can let me off at the corner.

4. ) to fire a gun or bullet

a ) to make something such as a bomb explode

let off steam

to shout or do something that allows you to get rid of anger

,let `on phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

let on something to admit something

,let `out phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to allow a person or animal to leave a place:

Would you let the dog out please?

a ) intransitive AMERICAN when school, movie, etc. lets out, it ends and people leave

2. ) transitive to make a noise:

As he walked away, he let out a sigh of relief.

3. ) transitive to use the extra cloth in a fold of a piece of clothing to make it wider:

I'm going to have this skirt let out.

4. ) transitive BRITISH to allow someone to use a room, building, etc. in exchange for money: RENT OUT

,let `up phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) if something bad or unpleasant lets up, it slows down or stops:

The icy wind never let up for a moment.

Things haven't let up at work, I'm still working over 60 hours a week.

2. ) to put less effort into something, especially criticizing someone or making them work harder:

Boy, you just never let up, do you?

let up on: She's a coach who never lets up on her players.

let

let 2 [ let ] noun count

1. ) in tennis, a SERVICE that hits the net and must be played again

2. ) BRITISH a period of time in which a house or apartment is rented to someone

without let or hindrance LEGAL

without being prevented from doing something