let go

Related to let go: Let Go and Let God

let (oneself) go

1. To behave in a wild or uninhibited manner. I was surprised that she let herself go at the party—she's usually so shy and reserved.
2. To fail to maintain an attractive physical appearance. A: "I was surprised to see that he had gained so much weight." B: "I know, he really let himself go after college."
See also: go, let

let (someone or something) go

1. To make free or give up control of something or someone; to release or discharge something or someone, as from confinement. Due to a lack of evidence, police had to let the suspects go. I love fishing but hate killing animals, so I let whatever I catch go.
2. To end a professional relationship with someone; to fire someone. A: "Wait, they fired you?" B: "Yes! They just let me go with no explanation!"
See also: go, let

let go

1. To stop physically holding on to someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "let" and "go." If you let go of the ledge, you'll fall! The baby refused to let go of the rattle. He let the rock go, and it was a long time before we heard it hit the bottom.
2. To fire or dismiss an employee. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "let" and "go." I'm worried that they'll let me go once this special project is over. I heard they're going to let go a lot of employees involved in the scandal.
3. To release someone or something from custody. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "let" and "go." We did bring him in for questioning, but we had nothing to charge him with, so we had to let him go. What time did you let go the prisoner?
4. To stop pursuing a particular desire or attempting to maintain a particular situation and accept things as they are. In this usage, the phrase is often "let it go." He's never going to clean the kitchen as diligently as you would—just let it go. It's been 10 years, Ken. I think it's time for you to let go and move on.
5. To relax and not focus on one's responsibilities or stresses. I think I just need a weekend where I can let go for a while and not worry about what's going on at work.
6. To utter some sudden, fierce, or uncontrolled noise. Often followed by "with something." The trapped wolf let go with a bone-chilling howl. I don't know what made him so angry, but he suddenly let go a string of expletives.
See also: go, let
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

let someone go

Euph. to fire someone. They let Jane go from her job. Fm afraid we're going to have to let you go.
See also: go, let

let go

 (with something) and cut loose (with something); let loose (with something)
1. to shout something out or expel something; to shout or express something wildly. The whole team let go with a loud shout. The audience cut loose with a loud cheer.
2. to deliver a strong verbal reprimand. Molly let loose with a tremendous scolding at Dave. Dave cut loose with a vengeful retort.
See also: go, let

Let it go.

Forget it.; Stop worrying about it. Don't get so angry about it. Let it go. Let it go. Stop fretting.
See also: go, let

let oneself go

 
1. Fig. to become less constrained; to get excited and have a good time. I love to dance and just let myself go. Let yourself go, John. Learn to enjoy life.
2. Fig. to let one's appearance and health suffer. When I was depressed, I let myself go and was really a mess. He let himself go and gained 30 pounds.
See also: go, let
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

let go

1. Allow to escape, set free, as in The police decided to let him go. [c. 1300]
2. Also, let go of. Release one's hold on, as in Please let go of my sleeve, or Once he starts on this subject, he never lets go. [Early 1400s]
3. let it go. Allow it to stand or be accepted. For example, Let it go; we needn't discuss it further. This usage is sometimes amplified to let it go at that, meaning "allow matters to stand as they are." [Late 1800s]
4. Cease to employ, dismiss, as in They had to let 20 workers go.
5. Also, let oneself go. Behave without restraint, abandon one's inhibitions; also, neglect one's personal hygiene and appearance. For example, When the music began, Jean let herself go and started a wild dance, or After her husband's death she let herself go, forgetting to bathe and staying in her nightgown all day . The first sense dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1900s.
See also: go, let
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

let it go (or pass)

choose not to react to an action or remark.
See also: go, let

let yourself go

1 act in an unrestrained or uninhibited way. 2 neglect yourself or your appearance; become careless or untidy in your habits.
See also: go, let
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

let it ˈgo (at ˈthat)

say or do nothing more about something: I could have disagreed with him, but I let it go. I don’t like arguments. The police spoke firmly to the boy about the damage and then let it go at that.
See also: go, let

ˌlet somebody ˈgo


1 allow somebody to be free: Will they let the hostages go?
2 make somebody have to leave their job: They’re having to let 100 employees go because of falling profits.
See also: go, let, somebody

ˌlet yourself ˈgo


1 behave in a relaxed way without worrying about what people think of your behaviour: Come on, enjoy yourself, let yourself go!
2 stop being careful about how you look and dress, etc: He has let himself go since he lost his job.
See also: go, let
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

let go

To cease to employ; dismiss: had to let 20 workers go.
See also: go, let
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • let (oneself) go
  • Let it go
  • let oneself go
  • let somebody go
  • let yourself go
  • let it all hang out
  • fly (one's) freak flag
  • amok
  • amuck
  • amuk
References in periodicals archive
His love assures us that when we let go of all that may come between ourselves and Jesus, we are thereby allowing God and grace and goodness to enter into our lives--there to abide, there to act, there to accomplish God's loving plan for us and for all.
The wisdom of letting go
As Mr Goldingay was sending a text message Drayton grabbed his phone and, because Mr Goldingay would not let go, dragged him off the bus.
North City News: Mugger jailed after teen victim punched; CHELMSLEY WOOD
Let go of your resentment and anger over things that are beyond your control.
Theme
It's not easy to let go of past regrets, but Hamilton Beazley, PhD, author of No Regrets: A 10-step program for living in the present and leaving the past behind (John Wiley & Sons, 2004), has found ways that can help.
Letting go of regrets improves your health
It took Coleman one year to write Before I Let Go, while he was still teaching.
On the way up: two emerging authors succeed in the fast-paced world of literary entrepreneurship
The mother told how she was holding both her children in her arms, but because of the severity of the flood she faced the agonising decision of having to let go of one of the two youngsters.
Mother's agonising choice for survival; TSUNAMI CRISIS
"Let Go" attracted for its rhythmic kinship with Everything But the Girl.
Frou Frou, "Let Go," Details
Her pal Debbie Nichols, who was riding with her, said: "The cat just wouldn't let go - it had a hold of her face.
Horror as lion mauls 2 cyclists
Embracing change requires the same ability to let go, as on a roller coaster, and goes against instinct for most (see sidebar, B.E.'s "Successpert Speaks").
Going through changes: face it: change is unavoidable. Take control of yourself so that the changes don't control you. (Attitude Enhancement)
From the amount of blood there was, I thought it had taken Kelsi's eye out." The angry animal eventually let go. The injured tot was rushed to a hospital, where she underwent surgery for the forehead wound and was given antibiotics to prevent infection.
Squirrelly confrontation. (Exercising the Right)
Loneliness is the first emotion ever experienced in human life, immediately after birth, and the last emotion ever experienced on earth just prior to death, when we realize that we have to let go and that we will have to go on alone.
The war on loneliness. (Chaplain's Corner)
When the stronger dog clamped its jaws around his pet's neck and would not let go, the Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP jumped in.
Dog law MSP is savaged by terrier in park
isn't the inability to let go a slow form of self-destructive behavior?
Knowing when it's time to move on
Greg Mangold, CreekPath System's vice president of sales and marketing, said the bedrock of the SSPs business is "the evolution of e-businesses relinquishing control of their systems and data." It can be hard for companies to let go of the data that represents their core competency But storing that data is probably not the company's mission, so as a service provider model frees up storage resources, the company can concentrate on what it does best.
StorageNetworks And CreekPath Systems: Goliath And David Have A Lot In Common
His full voice started emerging at "home," and then, at "of the," you could tell he was about to let go, and the split sec ond of anticipation sent a charge through the crowd, and then he did let go, at "brave," with his whole throat--he sang that word without doubt, loudly, loudly, in a ferocious baritone, carrying the note for ten, fifteen seconds, as the flag waved around on the chintzy digital screen, as everyone's bones melted and brains liquefied.
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