9 results for: let down

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

let·down

Audio Help [let-doun] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a decrease in volume, force, energy, etc.: a letdown in sales; a general letdown of social barriers.

2.	disillusionment, discouragement, or disappointment: The job was a letdown.

3.	depression; deflation: He felt a terrible letdown at the end of the play.

4.	the accelerated movement of milk into the mammary glands of lactating mammals upon stimulation, as by massage or suckling.

5.	Aeronautics. the descent of an aircraft from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or to making a target run or the like.

Also, let-down.

[Origin: 1760–70; n. use of v. phrase let down

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
let down

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

let1

Audio Help [let] Pronunciation Key verb, let, let·ting, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to allow or permit: to let him escape.

2.	to allow to pass, go, or come: to let us through.

3.	to grant the occupancy or use of (land, buildings, rooms, space, etc., or movable property) for rent or hire (sometimes fol. by out).

4.	to contract or assign for performance, usually under a contract: to let work to a carpenter.

5.	to cause to; make: to let one know the truth.

6.	(used in the imperative as an auxiliary expressive of a request, command, warning, suggestion, etc.): Let me see. Let us go. Just let them try it!

–verb (used without object)

7.	to admit of being rented or leased: The apartment lets for $100 per week.

–noun

8.	British. a lease.

—Verb phrases

let down,

a.	to disappoint; fail.

b.	to betray; desert.

c.	to slacken; abate: We were too near success to let down in our efforts.

d.	to allow to descend slowly; lower.

e.	Aeronautics. (of an airplane) to descend from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or a similar maneuver.

10.

let in,

to admit.

b.	to involve (a person) in without his or her knowledge or permission: to let someone in for a loss.

c.	Also, let into. to insert into the surface of (a wall or the like) as a permanent addition: to let a plaque into a wall.

d.	Also, let in on. to share a secret with; permit to participate in.

11.

let off,

a.	to release by exploding.

b.	to free from duty or responsibility; excuse.

c.	to allow to go with little or no punishment; pardon: The judge let off the youthful offender with a reprimand.

12.

let on,

a.	to reveal one's true feelings: She was terrified at the prospect, but didn't let on.

b.	to pretend: They let on that they didn't care about not being invited, but I could tell that they were hurt.

13.

let out,

a.	to divulge; make known.

b.	to release from confinement, restraint, etc.

c.	to enlarge (a garment).

d.	to terminate; be finished; end: When does the university let out for the summer?

e.	to make (a let-out fur or pelt).

14.

let up,

a.	to slacken; diminish; abate: This heat wave should let up by the end of the week.

b.	to cease; stop: The rain let up for a few hours.

15.	let up on, to treat less severely; be more lenient with: He refused to let up on the boy until his grades improved.

—Idioms

16.	let alone. alone (def. 8).

17.

let be,

a.	to refrain from interference.

b.	to refrain from interfering with.

18.	let go. go (def. 82).

19.	let someone have it, Informal. to attack or assault, as by striking, shooting, or rebuking: The gunman threatened to let the teller have it if he didn't move fast.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME leten, OE lǣtan; c. D laten, G lassen, ON lāta, Goth létan; akin to Gk lédeǐn to be weary, L lassus tired. See late

]

—Synonyms 1. See allow. 1. suffer, grant. 3. lease, rent, sublet, hire.

—Antonyms 1. prevent.

—Usage note 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

let¹ Audio Help   (lět) Pronunciation Key
v.   let, let·ting, lets

v.   tr.

To give permission or opportunity to; allow: I let them borrow the car. The inheritance let us finally buy a house. See Usage Note at leave¹.
To cause to; make: Let the news be known.
1. Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a command, request, or proposal: Let's finish the job! Let x equal y.
2. Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a warning or threat: Just let her try!
To permit to enter, proceed, or depart: let the dog in.
To release from or as if from confinement: let the air out of the balloon; let out a yelp.
To rent or lease: let rooms.
To award, especially after bids have been submitted: let the construction job to a new firm.

v. intr.

To become rented or leased.
To be or become assigned, as to a contractor.
To cause to come down gradually; lower: let down the sails.
1. To withdraw support from; forsake.
2. To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.
To allow to be known; admit: Don't let on that you know me.
To pretend.
To come to a close; end: School let out early. The play let out at 11 P.M.
To make known; reveal: Who let that story out?
To increase the size of (a garment, for example): let out a coat.
To slow down; diminish: didn't let up in their efforts.
To come to a stop; cease: The rain let up.

Phrasal Verb(s):
let down

To cause to come down gradually; lower: let down the sails.
1. To withdraw support from; forsake.
2. To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.

let on

To allow to be known; admit: Don't let on that you know me.
To pretend.

let out

To come to a close; end: School let out early. The play let out at 11 P.M.
To make known; reveal: Who let that story out?
To increase the size of (a garment, for example): let out a coat.

let up

To slow down; diminish: didn't let up in their efforts.
To come to a stop; cease: The rain let up.

Idiom(s):
let alone
Not to mention; much less: "Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them" (Garrison Keillor).

Idiom(s):
let go
To cease to employ; dismiss: had to let 20 workers go.

Idiom(s):
let off on Informal
To cause to diminish, as in pressure; ease up on: Let off on the gas so that we do not exceed the speed limit.

Idiom(s):
let (one's) hair down
To drop one's reserve or inhibitions.

Idiom(s):
let (someone) have it Informal

To beat, strike, or shoot at someone.
To scold or punish.

Idiom(s):
let (someone) in on

To reveal (a secret) to someone: They finally let me in on their plans.
To allow someone to participate in (something).

Idiom(s):
let up on
To be or become more lenient with: Why don't you let up on the poor child?

[Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; see lē- in Indo-European roots.]

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

let down
verb
1.	move something or somebody to a lower position; "take down the vase from the shelf" [syn: lower] [ant: bring up]
2.	fail to meet the hopes or expectations of; "Her boyfriend let her down when he did not propose marriage" [syn: disappoint]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
let down1

to lower
Example: She let down the blind.

Arabic:	يُسْقِط
Chinese (Simplified):	放低
Chinese (Traditional):	放低
Czech:	stáhnout
Danish:	sænke
Dutch:	neerlaten
Estonian:	alla laskma
Finnish:	laskea alas
French:	baisser
German:	herunterlassen
Greek:	κατεβάζω
Hungarian:	leenged
Icelandic:	draga niður
Indonesian:	menurunkan
Italian:	abbassare

Japanese:	降ろす
Latvian:	nolaist zemē
Lithuanian:	nuleisti
Norwegian:	senke, fire
Polish:	opuścić, spuścić
Portuguese (Brazil):	baixar, descer
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixar
Romanian:	a coborî, a lăsa
Russian:	опускать
Slovak:	stiahnuť
Slovenian:	spustiti
Spanish:	bajar
Swedish:	släppa (fira, sänka) ner
Turkish:	(aşağı) indirmek

let down2

to disappoint or fail to help when necessary etc
Example: You must give a film show at the party — you can't let the children down (noun ˈlet-down); She felt he had let her down by not coming to see her perform.

Arabic:	يَخْذُل، يَتَخَلّى عن
Chinese (Simplified):	使失望
Chinese (Traditional):	使失望
Czech:	zklamat, zradit
Danish:	skuffe; lade i stikken
Dutch:	teleurstellen, in de steek laten
Estonian:	lootust petma
Finnish:	tuottaa pettymys
French:	décevoir (n: déception)
German:	enttäuschen; im Stich lassen
Greek:	απογοητεύω, αποτυγχάνω να βοηθήσω σε κτ.
Hungarian:	becsap
Icelandic:	svíkja, bregðast
Indonesian:	mengecewakan
Italian:	deludere

Japanese:	失望させる
Latvian:	piekrāpt; pamest nelaimē
Lithuanian:	nuvilti
Norwegian:	skuffe, svikte
Polish:	zawieść
Portuguese (Brazil):	decepcionar, desapontar
Portuguese (Portugal):	desapontar
Romanian:	dezamăgire)
Russian:	разочаровывать;подводить
Slovak:	sklamať
Slovenian:	razočarati
Spanish:	fallar, defraudar
Swedish:	göra besviken, svika
Turkish:	düş kırıklığına uğratmak

let down3

to make flat by allowing the air to escape
Example: When he got back to his car, he found that some children had let his tyres down.

Arabic:	يُفْرِغ الهَواء من إطار السَّيّارَه
Chinese (Simplified):	放气
Chinese (Traditional):	放氣
Czech:	vypustit
Danish:	lukke luft ud
Dutch:	leeg laten lopen
Estonian:	õhust tühjaks laskma
Finnish:	päästää ilma
French:	dégonfler
German:	Luft herauslassen
Greek:	ξεφουσκώνω
Hungarian:	leereszt
Icelandic:	hleypa lofti úr
Indonesian:	mengempiskan
Italian:	sgonfiare

Japanese:	空気を抜く
Latvian:	saplacināt (izlaižot gaisu)
Lithuanian:	nuleisti, išleisti orą iš
Norwegian:	slippe ut lufta
Polish:	spuścić powietrze z
Portuguese (Brazil):	esvaziar
Portuguese (Portugal):	esvaziar
Romanian:	a (pre)lungi
Russian:	спустить
Slovak:	vypustiť
Slovenian:	izpustiti zrak
Spanish:	desinflar
Swedish:	släppa ut luften ur
Turkish:	havasını indirmek

let down4

to make longer
Example: She had to let down the child's skirt.

Arabic:	يُطَوِّل، يُسْدِل
Chinese (Simplified):	放低
Chinese (Traditional):	放低
Czech:	popustit
Danish:	lægge ned
Dutch:	uitleggen
Estonian:	pikemaks laskma
Finnish:	pidentää
French:	(r)allonger
German:	verlängern
Greek:	μακραίνω
Hungarian:	leereszt
Icelandic:	síkka
Indonesian:	memanjangkan

Italian:	allungare
Japanese:	おろす
Latvian:	pagarināt; palaist garāku (tērpu)
Lithuanian:	atleisti, pailginti
Norwegian:	legge ned
Polish:	podłużyć, wypuścić
Portuguese (Brazil):	encompridar
Portuguese (Portugal):	baixar
Russian:	удлинять
Slovak:	vypustiť
Slovenian:	podaljšati
Spanish:	alargar
Swedish:	lägga (släppa) ner
Turkish:	uzatmak

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