I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
give/let out a laugh
▪
She gave a loud laugh.
give/let out a shriek
▪
Ella let out a piercing shriek.
give/let out a sigh
▪
She let out a sigh of disappointment.
give/let out a yelp of pain/dismay/surprise etc
▪
The water was hotter than she had expected, and she gave an involuntary yelp.
let in a goal (= let the other team score a goal )
▪
Chelsea let in a goal in the 63rd minute.
let in some air (= let fresh air into a room )
▪
It would be nice to open the door and let in some air.
let it pass
▪
Carla made some comment about my work but I decided to let it pass .
let it slide
▪
Well, I guess we can let it slide this time.
let it slip that
▪
He let it slip that they were planning to get married.
let out a scream
▪
He let out a piercing scream.
let out/give a yell
▪
She let out a yell when she saw me.
let out/utter a cry
▪
Seeing the fields and mountains, she let out a cry of delight.
let sb in on a secret (= tell them a secret )
▪
Frank let me in on the secret.
let sb out of prison
▪
When's he going to be let out of prison?
let the matter rest/drop (= stop discussing or worrying about something )
▪
I was too curious to let the matter drop.
let us imagine … (= used to encourage someone else to think about a possibility )
▪
Let us imagine that you are an employer who wants to recruit some new staff.
let us/let’s assume (that) (= used when thinking about a possible event or situation and its possible results )
▪
Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we?
let your breath out (= breathe out )
▪
Let your breath out slowly and relax.
let your gaze/eyes/thoughts/mind etc drift
▪
Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk.
let your imagination run wild ( also let your imagination run riot British English ) (= allow yourself to imagine many strange or wonderful things )
▪
He uses painting as a way of letting his imagination run riot.
let...go to pot
▪
The government has let the whole country go to pot .
let...guess
▪
What star sign are you? No, let me guess .
Let...know (= tell me )
▪
Let me know what time you’re planning to arrive.
let/put the cat out (= let it or make it go outside )
▪
Can you let the cat out?
lets...walk all over her
▪
It’s terrible – she lets her kids just walk all over her .
turn/let/set sth loose (= let something go free )
▪
Don’t let your dog loose on the beach.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
down
▪
There were horse-drawn cabs with the hoods let down , and cars going by.
▪
When I was young, I let down my parents by quitting Sorbonne.
▪
She, too, was let down by those in authority whose job it was to protect her.
▪
Balletomanes got to see their favorite dancers let down their hair.
▪
At night, part of the panel was let down , revealing a bed with concealed lighting behind.
▪
Keep it coming like you are. Let down a little.
▪
Ferguson then said he would buy the title for the fans he had so badly let down .
▪
Quickly, Della let down her beautiful, long hair.
off
▪
Not for the first time this year, Seles had been let off with a mere slap on the wrist.
▪
Parents were let off the hook.
▪
Then, to mark the end of the service, three enormous thunder-flashes were let off in the rear gatehouse.
▪
Lousy schools and dysfunctional teachers were let off the hook.
▪
We let off steam in graffiti, vandalism and football hooliganism.
▪
Or did the high turnout suggest a letting off of steam after three intense years of flood recovery?
▪
When Manly-Warringah dropped out of the chase, St George stepped up the pressure and have never really let off .
▪
He was moving in slow motion when Jimmy let off a sudden burst that sent chunks of sidewalk flying everywhere.
out
▪
On Thursday Major Vanavskaya suffered her first serious set-back, let out a very unladylike expletive and slammed the phone down.
▪
Balor let out a bellow of fear and, in the same moment, the Trees closed in.
▪
And with that he let out a long raspberry that inspired some applause.
▪
He let out a long-held breath.
▪
It was only as my sister reopened the front door to let out her pet cat that I was noticed.
▪
It was to be hoped that Joanna didn't let out details of their various clients and the pet shop.
▪
And he was fully expecting to be let out .
■ NOUN
pass
▪
So Kylie, never one to let a lesson pass unheeded, acted on it.
▪
Mr Punsalong taught me to let pain pass through me.
▪
And Lisbie knew Fiona wasn't going to let this one pass without a major counterattack.
▪
She could not stand the thought that she would be left again; she always let the warning pass .
▪
I think not, Clive, but let that pass .
▪
I let the subject pass and made a mental note for myself.
▪
He let the timber pass by intending to slip the hook over the rope at its head.
rest
▪
Its opponents, however, were unlikely to let the matter rest where it stood in September 1932.
▪
She rolled on top of him, letting her full weight rest on his body.
▪
He let his hammer rest on the shoe sole and looked up.
▪
Attention creates the foreground of consciousness, letting the rest slip into peripheral awareness.
▪
Anyway, you really should have just taken the useful tips from his lecture and let the rest slide.
▪
When she sat down she didn't let herself rest against the back of the chair.
▪
Season buffalo steaks with salt and pepper to taste and let them rest for 1 hour at room temperature.
run
▪
It lets you copy and run files and search for and rename programs.
▪
She played the fish, gave it some slack and let it run till it hesitated, then slowly drew it back.
▪
They let Celtic fire run , uninhibitedly.
▪
Some people let their under-fives run riot.
▪
Never let a man run the whole show.
▪
Equally unexpectedly, he let the contest run to the bitter end.
▪
We would let his interest run its course.
slip
▪
Be careful lads not to let this one slip away!
▪
He tried to let Billie and Carlo slip to the back of his mind.
▪
On the few occasions I have met him it has been very difficult for me not to let slip something about you.
▪
Not a word had Dooley let slip , not even a hint.
▪
And on most of the occasions when they had been alone together he hadn't let a chance slip by.
▪
Just a little slower, maybe let the needle slip back down toward eighty, maybe seventy.
▪
Even if he did not allow himself to betray his secret directly he might let slip something that would provide a clue.
▪
The chance to convert a proposal long mooted into reality was too precious to let slip .
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
let (sth ↔) loose
let bygones be bygones
▪
Why don't we let bygones be bygones and forget about the whole thing.
▪
Although the book ended on a positive note in that the enemy's group leader tried to let bygones be bygones.
▪
He lets bygones be bygones, they say, and is always happy to welcome back the wayward.
▪
It raps a defector over the knuckles instantly but, after that, lets bygones be bygones.
▪
McVie credits Buckingham for letting bygones be bygones.
▪
Nor was he willing to let bygones be bygones once a quarrel had finally come to an end.
▪
We will let bygones be bygones.
let me be the judge of that
let nature take its course
▪
Just relax and let nature take its course.
▪
With a cold, it's better to just let nature take its course.
▪
I meant that, in the case of any other industry, we probably would have let nature take its course.
▪
I think we should let nature take its course.
▪
Should I just let nature take its course or stop it now?
▪
Stay calm and let nature take its course.
▪
The best is to obtain juveniles from a number of sources, rear them together and let nature take its course.
let sb loose on sth
▪
He seemed to have forgotten about only letting me loose on water.
▪
We let the Pacer loose on two testers - one fast, one slow.
▪
Who was feeding him or even letting him loose on occasions?
let the cat out of the bag
▪
I'm sorry. Jim knows about last week's party. I'm afraid I let the cat out of the bag.
▪
Some idiot's let the cat out of the bag -- Mrs Simpson realizes there's something going on.
▪
Inadvertently perhaps, the BiE report lets the cat out of the bag.
let the dust settle/wait for the dust to settle
let the genie out of the bottle
let the side down
▪
Brown was constantly letting the side down.
▪
Essentially, it's the ageing drivetrain that lets the side down.
▪
I don't want to let the side down - don't send me to the Sick Room!
▪
It is an unmentionable subject, a terrible way of letting the side down.
let your hair down
▪
Chat rooms on the Internet are a place we can let our hair down and say what we think.
▪
I spotted Juanita really letting her hair down on the dance floor.
▪
Playing softball is just a good way to let your hair down and have fun.
▪
You can really let your hair down and do what you want at the club.
▪
Among the many booksellers and publishers whom I spotted letting their hair down on the dance floor was independent publisher Christopher Hurst.
▪
He liked this: what his pub was all about, for people to let their hair down.
▪
In the second half Complicite let their hair down in their own inimitable way.
▪
Man's got ta let his hair down.
▪
Out in the pasture, the princess let her hair down.
▪
This was the day our friends let their hair down and spoke with amazing frankness.
▪
We know when we can afford to let our hair down and when we can't.
let's get this show on the road
let/blow off steam
▪
Recess is a good chance for kids to blow off steam .
▪
It was recreation hour, explained Brother Andrew with a smile, and the Brothers were letting off steam .
▪
Jody lets her blow off steam first.
▪
Others have behavioural problems and need to let off steam in a safe and controlled setting.
▪
She just needed to blow off steam .
▪
So kicking the cat, biting a towel or pounding a pillow aren't really much use, except for letting off steam .
▪
We let off steam in graffiti, vandalism and football hooliganism.
▪
You got upset, blew off steam .
▪
You want to let off steam ?
let/get sb off the hook
▪
People will think they let Charmaine off the hook because she's a woman.
▪
And he was at the heart of two of the double plays that got Johns off the hook .
▪
And this time there is no second match to get anyone off the hook !
▪
Apologising for ourselves Apologising and being self-deprecating can let you off the hook .
▪
Home striker Paul Crimmen let them off the hook on a number of occasions and Horsham had two goals disallowed.
▪
I emphasize the tense because Congress has the habit of letting itself off the hook when convenient.
▪
It could even, in a pinch, get him off the hook for the nightly walk to the monument.
▪
Why, she wondered, when she had effectively let him off the hook ?
▪
You could let them off the hook , or you could reel them in.
not let sb out of your sight
▪
Stay here, and don't let the baby out of your sight .
not let the grass grow under your feet
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
Let him come home safely, she prayed.
▪
200,00 sq ft of land was let to a local firm.
▪
I know he's grown up now, but it's hard for me to let go.
▪
I want to go to Europe this summer, but my parents won't let me.
▪
It'll drive you crazy if you let it.
▪
Nellie's house had a 'To Let ' sign in the window.
▪
Sue doesn't let her kids eat candy.
▪
Thanks for letting me spend the night at your place.
▪
The company owns about 170 cottages in Britain, which it lets out to tourists.
▪
We wanted to go camping, but our parents wouldn't let us.
▪
You'd better let the dog out.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
Away from her, he must feel like a boy let out of school.
▪
Because if you drive... hold on, let me just check some-thing.
▪
But let no one doubt that this earthquake will happen.
▪
If hungry he'd gnaw your ankle just to let you know to fill his bowl.
▪
My parents didn't want to let me go, but I begged them and promised to come back very quickly.
▪
So let us look at what factors appear to affect the performance of individuals in their jobs.
▪
They are the reason he asked Mobil to let him build a bigger store.
▪
Under no circumstances, however, should the Dole campaign let Buchanan speak during prime time at the Republican Convention.
II. noun
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
let (sth ↔) loose
let bygones be bygones
▪
Why don't we let bygones be bygones and forget about the whole thing.
▪
Although the book ended on a positive note in that the enemy's group leader tried to let bygones be bygones.
▪
He lets bygones be bygones, they say, and is always happy to welcome back the wayward.
▪
It raps a defector over the knuckles instantly but, after that, lets bygones be bygones.
▪
McVie credits Buckingham for letting bygones be bygones.
▪
Nor was he willing to let bygones be bygones once a quarrel had finally come to an end.
▪
We will let bygones be bygones.
let fly (sth)
▪
And there all the time, a line of kneeling archers, letting fly from behind their ranked shields.
▪
He located running back John Fuqua 20 yards downfield and let fly .
▪
If the threat still persists, he will let fly with one or both hindlegs.
▪
It seems that the Battler and Rico let fly at somebody who was coming out of the back door of the Regal Arms.
▪
Kimberley let fly at the dangling men from a hopeless range.
▪
Sit it on a hill and wait till the enemy is within half range and then let fly .
▪
The Bashers tightened lips, hunched shoulders, and let fly .
▪
You have only to come close enough to my hide and I let fly .
let it all hang out
▪
Each time you let it all hang out, you lower your threshold for doing it again.
▪
My face resembled the back of one of those baboons who let it all hang out at mating time.
▪
Now you can anonymously let it all hang out online.
▪
Was it possible to go too far, or should he just let it all hang out?
▪
We let it all hang out.
let it be known/make it known (that)
let it/her rip
let me be the judge of that
let me remind you/may I remind you (that)
let me see
▪
And Martini rolls a big, let me see , a big nineteen.
▪
But you could give me this project, put me in charge of the entire operation - and let me see it through.
▪
I promised to give it the fifty-one hours, so that's, let me see , forty-five left.
▪
Now let me see if I can split the difference.
▪
So far, let me see , it's two-eighty.
▪
Why won't you let me see your schoolbooks nowadays?
let nature take its course
▪
Just relax and let nature take its course.
▪
With a cold, it's better to just let nature take its course.
▪
I meant that, in the case of any other industry, we probably would have let nature take its course.
▪
I think we should let nature take its course.
▪
Should I just let nature take its course or stop it now?
▪
Stay calm and let nature take its course.
▪
The best is to obtain juveniles from a number of sources, rear them together and let nature take its course.
let rip
▪
Harriet finally let rip with 20 years of stored resentment.
▪
And picture the scene when a bunch of the boys let rip with the Toreador Song from Carmen.
▪
And, quite frankly, I just let rip .
▪
But Lord McNally, a Liberal Democrat, was able to let rip .
▪
Encouraged, and not noticing in his excitement the look of horror on his Rachel's face, Alfred let rip .
▪
He had carte blanche to let rip .
▪
In the end, the market is let rip .
▪
Out on the motorway he let rip .
let sb get on with it
let sb loose on sth
▪
He seemed to have forgotten about only letting me loose on water.
▪
We let the Pacer loose on two testers - one fast, one slow.
▪
Who was feeding him or even letting him loose on occasions?
let sb stew
let sleeping dogs lie
▪
The best plan is just to let sleeping dogs lie.
let sth drift
let sth pass
▪
When she started criticizing my parents, I couldn't let it pass .
let sth ride
▪
We can't just let this ride - this kid's future is at stake.
let sth slide
▪
Management has let safety standards slide at the plant.
let sth slip
let sth slip (through your fingers)
▪
And on most of the occasions when they had been alone together he hadn't let a chance slip by.
▪
As an aside, the parties let it slip that the idea of a true playoff system had been scrapped.
▪
Attention creates the foreground of consciousness, letting the rest slip into peripheral awareness.
▪
Be careful lads not to let this one slip away!
▪
Colin, on the other hand, became discouraged and let things slip .
▪
He held it up, and let it slip between his fingers.
▪
The Celtics let this one slip away slowly, painfully and needlessly.
▪
Wrapped up with visions of kissing Deborah, I had ignored his bedtime rituals and let him slip away.
let the cat out of the bag
▪
I'm sorry. Jim knows about last week's party. I'm afraid I let the cat out of the bag.
▪
Some idiot's let the cat out of the bag -- Mrs Simpson realizes there's something going on.
▪
Inadvertently perhaps, the BiE report lets the cat out of the bag.
let the genie out of the bottle
let the matter rest
▪
However, she can rest assured that we will not let the matter rest.
▪
I was going to knock for I was still intrigued by him but Benjamin called me so I let the matter rest .
▪
In her opinion anybody with any sense would let the matter rest there.
▪
Innocent maintained that Philip should have gone to Rome for absolution but for the moment he let the matter rest .
▪
Its opponents, however, were unlikely to let the matter rest where it stood in September 1932.
▪
She simply refused to let the matter rest where it.was.
let your hair down
▪
Chat rooms on the Internet are a place we can let our hair down and say what we think.
▪
I spotted Juanita really letting her hair down on the dance floor.
▪
Playing softball is just a good way to let your hair down and have fun.
▪
You can really let your hair down and do what you want at the club.
▪
Among the many booksellers and publishers whom I spotted letting their hair down on the dance floor was independent publisher Christopher Hurst.
▪
He liked this: what his pub was all about, for people to let their hair down.
▪
In the second half Complicite let their hair down in their own inimitable way.
▪
Man's got ta let his hair down.
▪
Out in the pasture, the princess let her hair down.
▪
This was the day our friends let their hair down and spoke with amazing frankness.
▪
We know when we can afford to let our hair down and when we can't.
let's get this show on the road
let's hear it for sb
let's just say
▪
"So who was she with?" "Let's just say it wasn't Ted."
let's roll
let/blow off steam
▪
Recess is a good chance for kids to blow off steam .
▪
It was recreation hour, explained Brother Andrew with a smile, and the Brothers were letting off steam .
▪
Jody lets her blow off steam first.
▪
Others have behavioural problems and need to let off steam in a safe and controlled setting.
▪
She just needed to blow off steam .
▪
So kicking the cat, biting a towel or pounding a pillow aren't really much use, except for letting off steam .
▪
We let off steam in graffiti, vandalism and football hooliganism.
▪
You got upset, blew off steam .
▪
You want to let off steam ?
let/get sb off the hook
▪
People will think they let Charmaine off the hook because she's a woman.
▪
And he was at the heart of two of the double plays that got Johns off the hook .
▪
And this time there is no second match to get anyone off the hook !
▪
Apologising for ourselves Apologising and being self-deprecating can let you off the hook .
▪
Home striker Paul Crimmen let them off the hook on a number of occasions and Horsham had two goals disallowed.
▪
I emphasize the tense because Congress has the habit of letting itself off the hook when convenient.
▪
It could even, in a pinch, get him off the hook for the nightly walk to the monument.
▪
Why, she wondered, when she had effectively let him off the hook ?
▪
You could let them off the hook , or you could reel them in.
live and let live
▪
She couldn't live and let live.
▪
The Smiths, though, have little time for the live and let live view.
not let sb out of your sight
▪
Stay here, and don't let the baby out of your sight .
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
This would justify the fact that to is not used with this sense of let .