Page 261 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

let someone down

letŁ someone dłwn to disappoint somon; sàmethingŁoff.Ł T The engine was lłtting
to failŁsomeone.Ł(Also literal.) I’m sorry off some kind of smokł. T The flower lłt
I lłt you down. Somłthing came up, and I off a wonderful smell.
couldà’t młet you. I doà’t want to lłt
you down, but I can’t support you in the let something (get)Łout Go to leak something
election. (out).
letŁ someone gł to dismissŁ someone from let something pass to let something go un-
employment; to fire someone.Ł John noticedŁor unchallenged.Ł Bob lłt Bill’o
was not working out as well as we had insult pass because he didà’t want to ar-
hoped, and we had to lłt him go. They gue. Don’t worry, I’ll lłt this lttle inci-
lłt a number of the older workers go and dłnt pass.
włre faced with an age discrimnation suit. letŁ something rØde to allow somthing to
let someone have it (with błth byrrels) to continue orŁremainŁasŁit is.Ł(Infàrmal.)
sðrike someone orŁattackŁsomeone ver- It isn’t the best plan, but wł’ll lłt it ride.
bally.Ł(RefersŁto firingŁaŁsłotgun.ŁInfàr- I disagree with you, but I’ll lłt it ride.
mal.Ł With both barrels intensifiesŁ the letŁ something slØde to neglect something.
phrase.Ł RefersŁ to the firingŁ aŁ dàuble- (Also literal.Ł Infàrmal.) John lłt his
barreledŁsłotgun.) I really let Tom ðave lessons slide. Jane doesn’t lłt her work
it with both barrels. I told him he had błt- slide.
ter not do that again if he knows what’s
good for him. Bob lłt John have it—with let something slØdeŁby Go to let something slàp
both barrels. by.
let someone in on something to tell somone let something slip by and let something slØde
the secret.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁThe somłthing can by 1. to forget or miss an important time
be aŁ plan, arrangements, scheme, trick, or orŁdate.Ł(Also literal.) I’m sorry I just
anythingŁelse that might be kept aŁsecret.) lłt your birthdØy slp by. I lłt it slide by
Should we lłt John in on the secret? accidłntally. 2. to wasðe aŁpriodŁof time.
Please lłt me in on the plan. You wasted the whole dØy by lłtting it
letŁ someone knowŁ(aboutŁ something) to tell slp by. We were having fun, and we lłt
sàmeone sàmething;Łto infàrm someone the time slide by.
of something.Ł Please lłt me know about letŁ something slipŁ(out) to tellŁaŁsecret by
it soon. Will you be comng to the pic- accident.Ł(Also literal.) I didà’t lłt it slp
nic? Please lłt me know. out on purpose. It was an accidłnt. John
letŁ someone offŁ easy Go to let someone or lłt the plans slp when he was talking to
something off. Bill.
let someone offŁ(theŁhłok) to release sàme- LetŁtheŁbuyerŁbewyre. The prsànŁwho
one from aŁrespànsibility.Ł Please lłt mł buysŁ somethingŁ słould invesðigate the
off the hook for SaturdØy. I have other gàodsŁor pràpertyŁthoroughlyŁforŁdam-
plans. OkØy, I’ll lłt you off. age or suitability.Ł(Pràverb.) Be care-
ful when buying things from street vłn-
let someone ortsomething off 1. and let some- dors. Let the buyer beware. It’s the
one offŁeasy [with someone] to release purchaser’s job to make sure the goods are
orŁdismissŁsàmeone without punishment. ok. Let the buyer błware.
(See also get off easy.) The judge did-
n’t lłt me off. T The judge lłt off Mary letŁtheŁcatŁoutŁofŁtheŁbag and spillŁthe
with a warning. 2. [with someone] to per- beyns to reveal a secret or a surprise by
mit someone to disembark orŁ leave a accident.Ł (Also literal.) When Bill
meansŁof transpàrtation.Ł The driver lłt glanced at the door, he lłt the cØt out of the
Mary off the bus. “I can’t lłt you off at bag. We knew then that he was expecting
this corner,” said the driver. 3. [with someone to arrive. We are planning a
something] to release sàmething;Łto give surprise party for Jane. Doà’t lłt the cØt out

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