let off

(= emit) vapour → von sich geben; gases → absondern; smell → verbreiten; to let off steam (lit) → Dampf ablassen; (fig also) → sich abreagieren; to let one off (Brit inf: = break wind) → einen (fahren) lassen (inf)

vt always separate

(= forgive) to let somebody off → jdm etw durchgehen lassen; I’ll let you off this time → diesmal drücke ich noch ein Auge zu; OK, I’ll let you off, you’re quite right → ich will dir mal ausnahmsweise recht geben; to let somebody off something → jdm etw erlassen; to let somebody off with a warning/fine → jdn mit einer Verwarnung/Geldstrafe davonkommen lassen; to let somebody off lightly → mit jdm glimpflich verfahren; to be let off lightly → glimpflich davonkommen; he’s been let off → man hat ihn laufen lassen

(= allow to go) → gehen lassen; we were let off early → wir durften früher gehen; I let the dog off (the leash) → ich machte den Hund (von der Leine) los

(from car etc) → herauslassen (inf), → aussteigen lassen

vi (inf: = fart) → einen fahren lassen (inf)

let¹

(let) – present participle ˈletting: past tense, past participle let – verb

1. to allow or permit. She refused to let her children go out in the rain; Let me see your drawing.

2. to cause to. I will let you know how much it costs.

3. used for giving orders or suggestions. If they will not work, let them starve; Let's (= let us) leave right away!

let alone

not to mention; without taking into consideration. There's no room for all the adults, let alone the children.

let (someone or something) alone/be

to leave alone; not to disturb or worry. Why don't you let him be when he's not feeling well!; Do let your father alone.

let down

1. to lower. She let down the blind.

2. to disappoint or fail to help when necessary etc. You must give a film show at the party – you can't let the children down (noun ˈlet-down); She felt he had let her down by not coming to see her perform.

3. to make flat by allowing the air to escape. When he got back to his car, he found that some children had let his tyres down.

4. to make longer. She had to let down the child's skirt.

let fall

to drop. She was so startled she let fall everything she was carrying.

let go (of)

to stop holding (something). Will you let go of my coat!; When he was nearly at the top of the rope he suddenly let go and fell.

let in/out

to allow to come in, go out. Let me in!; I let the dog out.

let in for

to involve (someone) in. I didn't know what I was letting myself in for when I agreed to do that job.

let in on

to allow to share (a secret etc). We'll let her in on our plans.

let off

1. to fire (a gun) or cause (a firework etc) to explode. He let the gun off accidentally.

2. to allow to go without punishment etc. The policeman let him off (with a warning).

let up to become less strong or violent; to stop: I wish the rain would let up (noun ˈlet-up)

let well alone

to allow things to remain as they are, in order not to make them worse.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Who is it, I said, whom you are refusing to let off?

View in context

The last item on the programme was a grand display of fireworks, to be let off exactly at midnight.

View in context

The chec and his attendants, though I had given them notice that we were going to let off our guns in honour of the King their master, could not forbear trembling at the fire and noise.

View in context

This arrangement offered the advantage, that if gas had to be let off, so as to descend, that which was in the outer balloon would go first; and, were it completely emptied, the smaller one would still remain intact.

View in context

But he could not let off peasants who did not pay their rent, nor let them fall into arrears.

View in context

She wrung her handkerchief hard in her lap, and let off the name as if she had been letting off a loaded gun:--'Lord Montbarry!'

View in context

Abner, let off your rifle, that they may know we ar' coming.

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Every consideration of the subject, in short, makes me thankful that my happiness is not more deeply involved.I shall do very well again after a little whileand then, it will be a good thing over; for they say every body is in love once in their lives, and I shall have been let off easily."

View in context

Her brother Petya was upstairs too; with the man in attendance on him he was preparing fireworks to let off that night.

View in context

He's a beastly coward I think, and he told me once he'd never let off a revolver in his life.

View in context

I hope Mirandy'll favor her comin' over to see us real often, for she'll let off some of her steam here, an' the brick house'll be consid'able safer for everybody concerned.

View in context

When I wish to rise to the level of the sea, I only let off the water, and empty all the reservoirs if I want the Nautilus to emerge from the tenth part of her total capacity."

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