[let me see] or [let us see] {informal} 1. Let us find out bytrying or performing an action. •/Let me see if you can jump over thefence./ 2. Give me time to think or remember. •/I can’t come today. Let mesee. How about Friday?/ •/Let’s see. Where did I put the key?/

[let off]{v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. •/Willieaccidentally let off his father’s shotgun and made a hole in the wall./ Syn.:GO OFF, LET LOOSE(2). 2. To permit to go or escape; excuse from a penalty, aduty, or a promise. •/Two boys were caught smoking in school but theprincipal let them off with a warning./ •/Mary’s mother said that she wouldlet Mary off from drying the supper dishes./ •/The factory closed for amonth in the summer and let the workers off./ Compare: LET GO. 3. or{informal} [let off the hook] To miss a chance to defeat or scoreagainst, especially in sports or games. •/We almost scored a touchdown in thefirst play against Tech but we let them off the hook by fumbling the ball./•/The boxer let his opponent off the hook many times./

[let off steam] or [blow off steam] {v. phr.} 1. To let or makesteam escape; send out steam. •/The janitor let off some steam because thepressure was too high./ 2. {informal} To get rid of physical energy orstrong feeling through activity; talk or be very active physically after forcedquiet. •/After the long ride on the bus, the children let off steam with arace to the lake./ •/When the rain stopped, the boys let off steam with aball game./ •/Bill’s mother was very angry when he was late in coming home,and let off steam by walking around and around./ •/Bill had to take hisforeman’s rough criticisms all day and he would blow off steam at home byscolding the children./ Compare: BLOW ONE’S TOP, LET GO(6).

[let off the hook] See: LET OFF(3).

[let on]{v.}, {informal} 1. To tell or admit what you know. — Usually used in the negative. •/Frank lost a quarter but he didn’t let on tohis mother./ 2. To try to make people believe; pretend. •/The old man likesto let on that he is rich./

[let one have it]{v. phr.} 1a. {slang} To hit hard. •/He drewback his fist and let the man have it./ •/Give him a kick in the pants; lethim have it!/ Syn.: GIVE IT TO. 1b. {slang} To use a weapon on; to shootor knife. •/The guard pulled his gun and let the robber have it in theleg./ Compare: OPEN UP. 1c. or [let one have it with both barrels]{slang} To attack with words; scold; criticize. •/Mary kept talking inclass until the teacher became angry and let her have it./ Syn.: LIGHTINTO(2). 2. {informal} To tell about it. — Used in the imperative phrase,"let’s have it". •/Now, Mary, let’s have it from the beginning./ •/Wewill take turns reading; John, let’s have it from page one./

[let one in on]{v. phr.} To reveal a secret to; permit someone toshare in. •/If I let you in on something big we’re planning, will you promisenot to mention it to anyone?/

[let oneself go] See: LET GO(6).

[let one’s hair down] or [let down one’s hair] {v. phr.},{informal} Act freely and naturally; be informal; relax. •/Kings andqueens can seldom let their hair down./ •/After the dance, the collegegirls let their hair down and compared dates./ Compare: LET GO(6).

[let one’s left hand know what one’s right hand is doing]{v. phr.} 1.To make a show of your kindness or help to others. — Used in the negative.•/The Bible tells us not to let the left hand know what the right hand isdoing when we give to the poor./ 2. {informal} To let everyone takingpart in something know what each is doing; encourage cooperation in working.•/Tom told Fred and Bill to meet him in town, but he forgot to tell themwhere. Next time he’ll let his left hand know what his right hand is doing./ — Often used in the negative. •/Our team lost today because the coach andcaptain did not let the left hand know what the right was doing, and theplayers were all mixed up./

[let out]{v.} 1a. To allow to go out or escape. •/The guard let theprisoners out of jail to work in the garden./ •/Mother won’t let us outwhen it rains./ Compare: LET LOOSE. 1b. {informal} To make (a sound) comeout of the mouth; utter. •/A bee stung Charles. He let out a yell and ranhome./ •/Father told Betty to sit still and not let out a peep duringchurch./ 2. To allow to be known; tell. •/I’ll never tell you anothersecret if you let this one out./ Compare: LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 3. Tomake larger (as clothing) or looser; allow to slip out (as a rope). •/Mary’smother had to let out her dress because Mary is growing so tall./ •/Fatherhooked a big fish on his line. He had to let the line out so the fish wouldn’tbreak it./ Compare: PIECE OUT. Contrast: TAKE IN. 4. {informal} To allowto move at higher speed. •/The rider let out his horse to try to beat thehorse ahead of him./ 5. {informal} To free from blame, responsibility, orduty. — Often used with "of". •/Last time I let you out of it when you werelate. I’ll have to punish you this time./ •/Frank has shoveled the snowfrom the sidewalk. That lets me out./ Compare: LET GO, LET OFF. 6,{informal} To discharge from a job; fire. •/The shop closed down and allthe men were let out./ 7. {informal} To dismiss or be dismissed. •/Thecoach let us out from practice at 3 o’clock./ •/I’ll meet you after schoollets out./

[let pass]{v. phr.} To disregard; overlook. •/Herb may haveoverheard what was said about him, but he decided to let it pass./

[let ride]{v. phr.}, {informal} To allow to go on without change;accept (a situation or action) for the present. •/The committee could notdecide what to do about Bob’s idea, so they let the matter ride for a month orso./ •/The class was rather noisy but the teacher let it ride because itwas near Christmas./ •/Ruth’s paper was not very good, but the teacher letit ride because she knew Ruth had tried./ Compare: LET GO(3), LET WELL ENOUGHALONE.

[let’s don’t] also [don’t let’s] {substandard} Let’s not; let usnot; I suggest that we don’t. •/"'Let’s go out and play," said Fred. "Let’sdon’t until the rain stops," said Mary./ •/Don’t let’s go now. Let’s gotomorrow instead./

[let’s have it] See: LET HAVE IT.

[let sleeping dogs lie] Do not make (someone) angry and cause trouble ordanger; do not make trouble if you do not have to. — A proverb. •/Don’t tellFather that you broke the window. Let sleeping dogs lie./

[let slip]{v. phr.} To unintentionally reveal. •/Ellen let it slipthat she had been a witness to the accident./

[letter] See: CHAIN LETTER, NIGHT LETTER, TO THE LETTER.

[letter-perfect]{adj. phr.} Memorized perfectly; perfect to the lastletter. •/The actor was letter-perfect in his role./

[let the cat out of the bag]{v. phr.}, {informal} To tell aboutsomething that is supposed to be a secret. •/We wanted to surprise Mary witha birthday gift, but Allen let the cat out of the bag by asking her what shewould like./ — Sometimes used in another form. •/Well, the cat is out ofthe bag — everybody knows about their marriage./ Compare: GIVE AWAY(3), LETOUT(2), SPILL THE BEANS.

[let the chips fall where they may]{v. phr.} To pay no attention tothe displeasure caused others by your actions. •/The senator decided to voteagainst the bill and let the chips fall where they may./ •/The police chieftold his men to give tickets to all speeders and let the chips fall where theymay./ Compare: COME WHAT MAY.