Idioms for let

Origin of let

1
before 900; Middle English leten, Old English lǣtan; cognate with Dutch laten, German lassen, Old Norse lāta, Gothic lētan; akin to Greek lēdeîn to be weary, Latin lassus tired. See late

synonym study for let

1. See allow.

usage note for let

Let us is used in all varieties of speech and writing to introduce a suggestion or a request: Let us consider all the facts before deciding. The contracted form let's occurs mostly in informal speech and writing: Let's go. Let's not think about that right now. Perhaps because let's has come to be felt as a word in its own right rather than as the contraction of let us, it is often followed in informal speech and writing by redundant or appositional pronouns: Let's us plan a picnic. Let's you and I (or me ) get together tomorrow. Both Let's you and me and Let's you and I occur in the relaxed speech of educated speakers. The former conforms to the traditional rules of grammar; the latter, nonetheless, occurs more frequently. See also leave1.

British Dictionary definitions for let up (1 of 3)

let up

verb (intr, adverb)

to diminish, slacken, or stop
(foll by on) informal to be less harsh (towards someone)

noun let-up

informal a lessening or abatement

British Dictionary definitions for let up (2 of 3)

let 1
/ (lɛt) /

verb lets, letting or let (tr; usually takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

noun

British the act of letting property or accommodation the majority of new lets are covered by the rent regulations

Word Origin for let

Old English lǣtan to permit; related to Gothic lētan, German lassen

British Dictionary definitions for let up (3 of 3)

let 2
/ (lɛt) /

noun

an impediment or obstruction (esp in the phrase without let or hindrance)
tennis squash
  1. a minor infringement or obstruction of the ball, requiring a point to be replayed
  2. the point so replayed

verb lets, letting, letted or let

(tr) archaic to hinder; impede

Word Origin for let

Old English lettan to hinder, from læt late; related to Old Norse letja

Idioms and Phrases with let up (1 of 2)

let up

1

See let down, def. 2.

2

Cease, stop entirely, as in The rain has let up so we can go out. [Late 1700s]

3

let up on. Be or become more lenient with, take the pressure off, as in Why don't you let up on the child? [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with let up (2 of 2)

let