let\ off

let\ off
v
1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire.

Willie accidentally 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, a duty, or a promise.

Two boys were caught smoking in school but the principal let them off with a warning.

Mary's mother said that she would let Mary off from drying the supper dishes.

The factory closed for a month 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 score against, especially in sports or games.

We almost scored a touchdown in the first play against tech but we let them off the hook by fumbling the ball.

The boxer let his opponent off the hook many times.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Let-off — (l[e^]t [o^]f ; 115), n. (Mach.) A device for letting off, releasing, or giving forth, as the warp from the cylinder of a loom. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • let off — [v] make not subject to punishment or action abandon, absolve, discharge, dispense, drop, excuse, exempt, exonerate, forgive, let go, pardon, privilege from, release, relieve, remove, spare; concepts 50,83,88,317 Ant. blame, incarcerate, punish …   New thesaurus

  • let off — ► let off 1) cause (a gun, firework, or bomb) to fire or explode. 2) refrain from punishing. 3) excuse (someone) from a task or obligation. Main Entry: ↑let …   English terms dictionary

  • let off — index absolve, acquit, acquitted, cast (throw), clear, excuse, palliate (excuse) …   Law dictionary

  • let-off — ► NOUN informal ▪ an instance of unexpectedly escaping or avoiding something …   English terms dictionary

  • let off — verb grant exemption or release to Please excuse me from this class • Syn: ↑excuse, ↑relieve, ↑exempt • Derivationally related forms: ↑excuse (for: ↑excuse) …   Useful english dictionary

  • let off — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms let off : present tense I/you/we/they let off he/she/it lets off present participle letting off past tense let off past participle let off 1) let someone off something British to allow someone not to do… …   English dictionary

  • let off — {v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie accidentally 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, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • let off — {v.} 1. To discharge (a gun); explode; fire. * /Willie accidentally 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, a duty, or a promise. * /Two boys were …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • let-off — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun ( s) Etymology: let off 1. : an act or instance of letting off spend the rest of his life in gaol, and a damned lucky let off it is for him Ngaio Marsh specifically : neglect of a chance to dismiss or score against an opponent …   Useful english dictionary

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