let on

let ¹  (lt)

v. let, let·ting, lets

v.tr.

1. To give permission or opportunity to; allow: I let them borrow the car. The inheritance let us finally buy a house. See Usage Note at leave¹.

2. To cause to; make: Let the news be known.

3.

a. Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a command, request, or proposal: Let's finish the job! Let x equal y.

b. Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a warning or threat: Just let her try!

4. To permit to enter, proceed, or depart: let the dog in.

5. To release from or as if from confinement: let the air out of the balloon; let out a yelp.

6. To rent or lease: let rooms.

7. To award, especially after bids have been submitted: let the construction job to a new firm.

v.intr.

1. To become rented or leased.

2. To be or become assigned, as to a contractor.

Phrasal Verbs:

let down

1. To cause to come down gradually; lower: let down the sails.

2.

a. To withdraw support from; forsake.

b. To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.

let on

1. To allow to be known; admit: Don't let on that you know me.

2. To pretend.

let out

1. To come to a close; end: School let out early. The play let out at 11 p.m.

2. To make known; reveal: Who let that story out?

3. To increase the size of (a garment, for example): let out a coat.

let up

1. To slow down; diminish: didn't let up in their efforts.

2. To come to a stop; cease: The rain let up.

Idioms:

let alone

Not to mention; much less: "Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them" (Garrison Keillor).

let go

To cease to employ; dismiss: had to let 20 workers go.

let off on Informal

To cause to diminish, as in pressure; ease up on: Let off on the gas so that we do not exceed the speed limit.

let (one's) hair down

To drop one's reserve or inhibitions.

let (someone) have it Informal

1. To beat, strike, or shoot at someone.

2. To scold or punish.

let (someone) in on

1. To reveal (a secret) to someone: They finally let me in on their plans.

2. To allow someone to participate in (something).

let up on

To be or become more lenient with: Why don't you let up on the poor child?

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[Middle English leten, from Old English ltan; see l- in Indo-European roots.]

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let ²  (lt)

n.

1. Something that hinders; an obstacle: free to investigate without let or hindrance.

2. Sports An invalid stroke in tennis and other net games that requires a replay.

tr.v. let·ted or let, let·ting, lets Archaic

To hinder or obstruct.

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[Middle English lette, from letten, to hinder, from Old English lettan; see l- in Indo-European roots.]

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let on

Verb

Informal

1. to reveal (a secret)

2. to pretend: he let on that he was a pilgrim

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

let on - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"; "The actress won't reveal how old she is"; "bring out the truth"; "he broke the news to her"; "unwrap the evidence in the murder case" disclose, divulge, expose, give away, let out, reveal, unwrap, discover, bring out, break blackwash - bring (information) out of concealment muckrake - explore and expose misconduct and scandals concerning public figures; "This reporter was well-known for his muckraking" blow - cause to be revealed and jeopardized; "The story blew their cover"; "The double agent was blown by the other side" out - reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle; "The gay actor was outed last week"; "Someone outed a CIA agent" come out of the closet, out, come out - to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality; "This actor outed last year" spring - produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; "He sprang these news on me just as I was leaving" get around, get out, break - be released or become known; of news; "News of her death broke in the morning" betray, bewray - reveal unintentionally; "Her smile betrayed her true feelings" confide - reveal in private; tell confidentially leak - tell anonymously; "The news were leaked to the paper" babble out, blab, blab out, let the cat out of the bag, peach, spill the beans, tattle, babble, talk, sing - divulge confidential information or secrets; "Be careful--his secretary talks" tell - let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late" reveal - disclose directly or through prophets; "God rarely reveal his plans for Mankind"